RNS: A Russian court has imposed a fine of 3 million rubles on tech giant Google for allegedly failing to remove false information related to the conflict in Ukraine. The court’s decision, which comes amidst heightened tensions, underscores the growing clash between global technology companies and governments seeking to regulate online content in sensitive geopolitical contexts.
According to Russian media reports, a Russian court found Google, particularly its YouTube video service, guilty of not taking timely action to delete videos containing inaccurate information about the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This failure to promptly remove such content led to the court imposing a 3-million-ruble fine on the internet giant.
Notably, the conflict had significantly affected Google’s operations in Russia earlier. The US tech giant’s business activities in Russia were effectively suspended when the conflict escalated.
Last year, Google claimed that it had filed for bankruptcy in Russia after authorities seized its bank account. This financial setback prevented the company from meeting its obligations, including paying staff and suppliers.
The recent verdict against Google follows a trend of legal actions undertaken by Russian authorities to regulate the content disseminated by global tech companies.
Similar actions were taken in early August against Apple and the Wikimedia Foundation, the organization behind Wikipedia. This trend highlights the concerted efforts of governments to control information flow and narratives, particularly during times of geopolitical turmoil.
