Russia is upholding a massive fine on Google in terms of the information it spreads online, with the country alleging that the company spread false data and misleading content on the platform. The transcontinental country is upholding a massive $370 million fine against the tech company from Mountain View, California, from its communications regulator.
Russia vs. Google: $370M Fine for Misinformation
Russia vs. Google is not new in the news anymore, and it is because Russia imposed fines on the tech company in previous altercations before, focusing on different lawsuits or penalties against the company. Now, according to Reuters, Russia's communications regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, imposes a new fine on Google worth $370 million.
Roskomnadzor said that Google's YouTube is allowing illegal videos online, and these uploads are something that goes against the Russian laws. These videos allegedly include fake news, disinformation, and misleading content from their uploaders or creators.
It also talks about the alleged "false information" that content creators upload regarding the "progress on the special military operations in Ukraine."
The videos are allegedly discrediting Russian armed forces.
Google Cannot Pay the Fine; why?
However, according to PC Mag, Google cannot pay the fines imposed against them by Russia. It is because most of the bank transfer methods to the country are blocked or banned by its companies. Moreover, there are limited companies that still have their transfers available to the country, but it is mainly for outward transfers.
Russia and its Disputes
Russia is still facing a lot of disputes in the present, and it is because of the acts that it did against its neighboring country, Ukraine, that brought an international issue for everyone. One of the things that happened here is that many tech companies pulled out from the company, and it resulted to losing services like Google, Microsoft, Epic Games, and more.
One of the services that pulled out in this dispute is Google News, and the company prevented its service from being accessible to the country, and this includes its citizens who are not part of the conflict. Another one is Google preventing Russians from purchasing games and apps through its Google Play Store, something that prevents them from accessing new titles or experiences.
However, that is not the end of it, as Alphabet also disabled advertisements in Russia which effectively cut them off.
It is not the first time that Russia and Google have had disputes, and the European country is filing fines against the tech company in their technology in this dispute. However, this is another one that puts it on top of the other, with Google not having the ability to pay the country as most of the services to transfer the payment are blocked, frozen, or banned.
This article is owned by TechTimes
Written by Isaiah Richard
