Russia on Thursday fined Google 3 million rubles ($ 41,107) for violating privacy laws.
The Tagansky District Court in Moscow ruled on Thursday (July 29th) that this is Google’s first fine in connection with the crime.
Google confirmed the fine to Reuters, but declined to comment further.
The fine comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and major technology companies in recent months.
Russia has repeatedly fined large technology companies for crimes such as refusing to remove banned content and trying to persuade them to open an office in Russia.
Russia’s Federal Communications, Information, Technology and Public Media Authority warned last month that Google could be fined 6 million rubles for failing to store personal data of Russian users on Russian soil.
In June of this year, a court in Russia fined Google 4 million rubles ($ 5,540) for refusing to remove banned content. In an interview with Itar-Tass on June 4, a spokesman for Russia’s Communications, Information, Technology and Public Media Monitoring Organization stated that Google has refused to remove content prohibited in Russia and will not remove 20 to 30 percent of the links to such content. (More details).
In retaliation, Google has angered Russian officials by blocking accounts linked to pro-Kremlin figures and media outlets.
Russia is monitoring and warning social networks and Internet service providers in order to regulate its Internet space and sovereignty. According to the Russian Regulatory Authority, the measures are part of Moscow’s push to contain Western technology giants and strengthen “Internet dominance.”
Interfax news agency also reported on Thursday that a court in Moscow is in the early stages of legal proceedings to fine Facebook and Twitter for committing a similar crime to Google (violation of the rules related to the storage of users’ personal information).
Earlier in the day, on June 11, a Russian court sentenced Facebook and Telegram to pay fines for refusing to remove banned content. A Moscow court sentenced Facebook to pay 17 million rubles (approximately $ 236,000) and Telegram to pay 10 million rubles ($ 139,000). (More details).
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the “Internet Governance” bill about a year ago, and according to a new law, Internet service providers in Russia must not be connected to external servers.
Also, since the beginning of February 2021, a law has been enacted in Russia that requires social networks to independently identify and block prohibited content.
Social networks are required to expeditiously restrict access to such prohibited information. If it is not possible for them to access such content independently within 24 hours, the social network administration must send this information to the FBI.
