Russia slams Google with fines of $373 million for not removing Prohibited Content from YouTube, most of which relates to the Ukraine War. Russia to target US giant with 21.1 billion ruble (~$373 million) penalty claiming the videos on YouTube platform promote extremism and terrorism.
Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor said the Tagansky District Court handed down the fine as Google repeatedly failed to restrict access to banned content, with YouTube singled out as a prime offender. It said the video platform had not deleted “fakes about the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation,” writes Reuters.
Google was also facing a $98 million penalty in December by Russian court over the allegations for failing to remove illegal content.
A report in May revealed YouTube had removed more than 70,000 videos and 9,000 channels over content relating to the Ukraine war, often due to the invasion being referred to as a “liberation mission.”
Google is facing potential economic recession and slow down hiring of new employees. The Russian environment is not favorable for US giant Google because he has suspended all advertising in Russia including on YouTube, but YouTube remains accessible in the country.