A Russian court has fined Alphabet’s Google 3.8 million roubles ($41,530) for hosting YouTube content that included videos instructing Russian soldiers on how to surrender, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Monday.
This is not the first time Russian authorities have penalised Google. In January 2025, a Russian court imposed a larger fine of 8 billion roubles ($77.9 million) on the company for failing to comply with previous penalty orders related to content regulations.
For several years, Russia has pressured foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, particularly information it classifies as “fake” about the war in Ukraine.
When companies fail to comply, they face a series of fines that, while relatively small compared to their global revenues, represent a struggle between Moscow and Western tech firms over digital content regulation.
Nonetheless, YouTube is still a key platform in Russia, though its reach has diminished. Before the war in Ukraine, YouTube attracted around 50 million daily users in Russia. That number has now dropped to approximately 12 million, showing both regulatory issues and government efforts to push users toward domestic alternatives.
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Alternative platforms such as VK Video and RuTube have attempted to fill the gap, but neither has eroded YouTube’s presence. Many Russian users continue to find ways to access YouTube content despite restrictions.
Russian authorities have been accused of deliberately throttling YouTube’s download speeds to hinder access to content critical of President Vladimir Putin and his government.
Moscow denies these allegations, claiming that any issues users experience stem from Google’s failure to upgrade its infrastructure in the country—a charge that Google and independent technology experts dispute.
The fines imposed on Google reiterates the global issue of digital freedom, content moderation, and government control over online platforms. While no immediate international response has been issued regarding the latest fine, previous cases have drawn complaints from Western governments and digital rights organisations, which view Russia’s actions as part of a larger crackdown on free speech and independent media.
In December, President Putin escalated his rhetoric, accusing Google of being a tool of the U.S. government used to exert political influence.
Google has yet to respond to requests for comment on the latest fine.
