Thu Oct 31 15:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Russia Demands Unfathomable Sum from Google Over YouTube Censorship
**Moscow, Russia** – In a stunning move, Russia has demanded an astronomical sum from Google, alleging the tech giant owes the Kremlin over 2 undecillion rubles – a 2 followed by 36 zeroes – for blocking pro-Russian channels on YouTube. This translates to approximately $20 decillion, or $20 billion trillion trillion, dwarfing the entire global economy.
The Kremlin claims that the fines are accumulating due to Google’s refusal to comply with a court order to restore several pro-Russian channels that were blocked in 2022. According to Russian state media TASS, penalties double every week if Google continues to defy the court’s decision.
“This is a symbolic figure,” admitted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, acknowledging the astronomical sum. “Google should not be restricting the actions of our broadcasters on its platform.”
Google has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit but has acknowledged “ongoing legal matters” relating to its business in Russia, including disputes regarding account termination. The company maintains that these matters will not have a material impact on its earnings.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Google curtailed its operations in the country but has stopped short of completely withdrawing. Many of its services, including Search and YouTube, remain available in Russia. However, Google’s Russia subsidiary filed for bankruptcy and suspended most commercial activities after the government seized control of its bank accounts.
This latest development further highlights the growing tension between Russia and Western tech companies in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
First Piper 