Kremlin fines Google more than world’s collective GDP

The Kremlin has fined Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., two undecillion rubles for blocking some of its content on YouTube, according to Russia’s state-run TASS news outlet. That’s roughly 20 decillion USD—a 20 with 33 zeros after it. WORLD reached out to Google for a comment on the fine but did not immediately receive a response.

Why so much money? The fine grew to be so large because of accrued interest, TASS reported. The number will continue to grow even larger since it doubles every week that it isn’t paid. Eventually, it might even be as large as a single googol—the number one followed by 100 zeroes—Moscow-based associate professor of economics and law Roman Yankovsky told TASS.

Does the Kremlin really expect Google to pay that? Yankovsky believes the Kremlin doesn’t actually expect Google to pay the fine, TASS reported. Google may just block Russian firms from advertising on Google’s platforms, Yankovsky said. Those living in Russia may have a harder time accessing YouTube and other Google services, Yankovsky told TASS.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about the U.S. government sanctioning several hundred third-party firms allegedly supplying Russia’s war machine.