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According to reports from international media on Oct. 30, the Russian government has imposed a fine on Google amounting to approximately 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 US dollars (35 digits), a figure that far surpasses the total global GDP, which stood at about US$110 trillion in 2023 (a 15-digit number).
The reports indicate that Google lost a lawsuit in 2020 due to its video platform YouTube blocking several Russian media accounts. Since then, Google has been fined RUB$100,000 daily. It is reported that if Google fails to pay the fine within nine months, the amount will double every day without limit. Compliance with the court's decision is the only way for Google to re-enter the Russian market, although the fine far exceeds Google's market value.
Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Google shut down its Russian operations, and its subsidiary declared bankruptcy. Russian authorities have since seized over US$100 million in assets from the bankrupt entity. Despite Russia's astronomical claim against Google, the company stated in its last financial report that "We do not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect." Google "clearly will not pay this fine, and the Russian Federation cannot recover the money from the company."
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