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Russia is arguing with Google not only in its own country
Photo: TOBY MELVILLE / REUTERS
In Moscow, a court fined Google 7.2 billion rubles.
That corresponds to around 87 million euros.
The reason given by the court on Friday was that the US company had repeatedly failed to delete content that Russia considers illegal.
For the first time, the amount of the fine was based on a certain percentage of the annual Russian turnover, which increases the fine.
A percentage was not given by the court, according to Reuters calculations it corresponds to a little more than eight percent.
Google said in an email that it would review the verdict and then decide on possible steps.
The Russian government often takes legal action against Internet platforms for allegedly failing to delete content classified as illegal, such as pornographic material or posts about drugs and suicide.
Moscow also classifies articles calling on minors to participate in opposition protests as illegal.
In September, a Moscow court sentenced Facebook, which has now been renamed Meta, to fines totaling the equivalent of 245,000 euros and Twitter to pay 58,200 euros. Fines have also been imposed on Google, but never as high as on Friday. This year they totaled almost 385,000 euros.
Russia is arguing with Google not only in its own country.
Most recently, the company's video platform YouTube removed a video channel from the German offshoot of the Russian state broadcaster RT (formerly Russia Today), "because of a violation of the YouTube terms of use" and "after only five hours of broadcasting time".
The Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor then accused Google of censorship and asked the company to lift the lockdown.
Otherwise "measures for total or partial restriction" could be taken against the platform.
Roskomnadzor is also demanding that Google, Meta and other foreign technology companies set up their own offices in the country by January 1.
Otherwise there is a risk of restrictions up to and including complete blocking.
pbe / AFP / Reuters
