(Is this true?)
#Google’s Russian subsidiary owes local TV channels over 91.5 QUINTILLION rubles—a staggering 20-digit figure
The debt stems from courts ordering Google to unblock their YouTube channels, with penalties compounding exponentially over time
https://x.com/RT_com/status/1901547289568546993?t=EAMTCENf9jewTSHK7re76w&s=19
#Grok
Q
Does Google Russia owe Russia money?
Does Google Russia owe creators money as their youtube channels have been blocked?
A
Google Russia has faced significant financial and operational challenges in Russia, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent Western sanctions. Here's a breakdown of the situation:
Does Google Russia owe Russia money?
Google Russia has been fined by Russian courts for various reasons, primarily related to its refusal to unblock pro-Russian YouTube channels, such as those operated by state-sponsored media. These fines have escalated dramatically due to compounding penalties. For example, Russian courts have issued fines against Google amounting to an astronomical sum—reportedly over 2 undecillion rubles (a 2 followed by 36 zeros), which translates to around $20 decillion. This figure far exceeds the global economy's GDP, estimated at $110 trillion by the International Monetary Fund, and is largely symbolic, as it is unenforceable in practice.
The fines began accumulating in 2020 after pro-government media outlets, such as Tsargrad and RIA FAN, won lawsuits against Google for blocking their YouTube channels. These daily penalties have doubled weekly, leading to the current exorbitant amount.
Google Russia's local subsidiary filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after Russian authorities seized its bank accounts, making it impossible for the company to continue operations in the country. Google has stated in legal filings that it does not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect on its operations, given its limited presence in Russia.
While these fines exist on paper, they are largely symbolic and unenforceable, especially given Google's withdrawal from most commercial activities in Russia, such as ad sales and app sales on the Google Play Store.
Does Google Russia owe creators money as their YouTube channels have been blocked?
Russian YouTube creators have been significantly impacted by Google's suspension of payment-based services in Russia, which began in March 2022 due to Western sanctions disrupting payment systems. This suspension included monetization features such as YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, Super Chat, and merchandise sales for viewers in Russia.
Creators in Russia can no longer monetize content from viewers within Russia, though they can still generate revenue from viewers outside the country through ads and paid features. However, many creators have reported difficulties accessing their earnings due to banking sanctions, including the exclusion of many Russian banks from SWIFT, which has made it challenging to withdraw funds from platforms like AdSense.
Some creators have turned to alternative payment methods, such as cryptocurrency, to receive donations, but converting these into rubles remains difficult in Russia. For example, creators like Roman Proshin (NFKRZ) and Valentin Petukhov (Wylsacom) have publicly discussed the financial strain caused by these restrictions.
In August 2024, Google began deactivating AdSense accounts for Russian creators, bloggers, and publishers, notifying them that monetization through these accounts would no longer be possible. Google attempted to pay out remaining balances within 60 days, provided payment thresholds were met and accounts were not blocked by sanctions. However, some creators expressed uncertainty about accessing these funds due to payment blocks.
While Google has not explicitly stated that it "owes" creators money, the suspension of monetization and payment systems has effectively cut off a significant income stream for many Russian creators, particularly those reliant on AdSense earnings. This situation is a direct result of sanctions and Google's compliance with them, rather than a failure to pay creators for services rendered.
Summary
Google Russia faces symbolic, unenforceable fines from Russian courts for blocking pro-Russian YouTube channels, but these do not represent a practical financial obligation due to Google's limited operations in Russia and its bankruptcy filing.
Russian YouTube creators are not "owed" money in the traditional sense, but they have been severely impacted by Google's suspension of monetization and payment systems in Russia, driven by Western sanctions. Many creators have lost access to earnings and are struggling to find alternative revenue streams, with some turning to cryptocurrency despite challenges in converting funds.
