Russia: Issued ruling in lawsuit against Google alleging non-compliance with content moderation requirements as a social network owner

On 23 August 2023, Moscow's Tagansky District Court imposed an administrative penalty in the form of an administrative fine of RUB 3.5 million on Google LLC after finding the company guilty of failing in its duty as a social network owner to conduct monitoring and restrict access to particular information under the self-control law under Part 2 of Article 13.50 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which came into effect on 1 February 2021. The Code of Administrative Offenses mandates social networks to independently remove prohibited content, handle user applications through a legal form, and publish annual reports on their moderation efforts. Google's repeated administrative violations in Russia highlight ongoing challenges in compliance with the country's digital content regulations.