On Tuesday, Google faced a fine of 15 million roubles ($164,000) from a Moscow court due to its persistent refusal to store Russian users' data on servers within the country. This development comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and foreign technology companies, involving issues of content, censorship, data storage, and the demand for local representation. The dispute has escalated, particularly since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.
Google's Russian subsidiary has been at the center of scrutiny in Russia for its failure to remove content deemed illegal by Moscow and for restricting access to certain Russian media on its YouTube platform.
Facing mounting pressure, Google's Russian unit filed for bankruptcy during the summer of 2022, triggered by authorities seizing its bank account. This financial setback rendered the subsidiary unable to meet its financial obligations, including paying staff and vendors.
While the Kremlin has imposed bans on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, it has not implemented restrictions on Google's services. Notably, Google's search engine and the YouTube platform, both offered free of charge, continue to operate in Russia.
As of now, Google has not provided an immediate response to emailed requests for comment on the court's decision and the imposed fine.
