Russia: Russian court imposes fine on Google for repeated failure to remove prohibited content on Ukraine conflict

On 18 July 2022, the Magistrate's Court of the Tagansky District of Moscow issued a ruling in the case brought before the Court by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media of Russia (Roskomnadzor) against Google LLC, owner of company Youtube. The Court imposed a fine on Youtube amounting to RUB 21.1 billion (calculations based on the company's annual turnover in Russia) for repeatedly failing to remove prohibited materials and hence violating Russian law. In particular, Google failed to remove flagged content that discredits the Russian army, materials promoting extremism and terrorism, materials promoting an indifferent attitude to the life and health of minors, and materials inciting participation in unauthorised mass actions.