Fines imposed by Russian courts on major technology companies, including Alphabet’s Google and YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and Telegram, appear to have been settled, as these companies are no longer registered as debtors in the state bailiffs’ database. The fines were related to alleged violations involving unlawful content and non-compliance with the requirement to store user data locally, issues that have escalated in disputes between Russia and foreign technology companies.
However, the state bailiffs’ database still lists X (formerly Twitter) and Twitch as debtors, with fines totaling 51 million roubles ($560,730) and 23 million roubles ($252,879), respectively. Twitter and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were blocked in Russia after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while Google-owned YouTube faced increased scrutiny from the Russian government.
In late 2023, a Russian court imposed a fine of 4.6 billion roubles ($50.4 million) on Google, calculated as a proportion of its annual turnover in Russia. Meta, previously labeled as “extremist” in 2022, also faced fines proportionate to its Russian revenue. Google, Meta, TikTok, and Telegram have not immediately responded to requests for comment, while state bailiffs could not be reached for comment.
The ongoing disputes underscore the challenges faced by foreign technology companies operating in Russia, as the government continues to enforce regulations and penalties for perceived violations. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as the tech giants navigate the regulatory landscape in the country.
