Security News > 2022 > June > Russia fines Google for spreading ‘unreliable’ info defaming its army
Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecommunications watchdog, has fined Google 68 million rubles for helping spread what it called "Unreliable" information on the war in Ukraine and the failure to remove it from its platforms.
The Russian telecommunications regulator said Google's YouTube online video sharing platform "Purposefully contributes" to spreading inaccurate info on Russia's war in Ukraine, thus defaming Russia's army.
Google now also risks a revenue-based fine as high as 10% of its annual Russian turnover for repeatedly failing to restrict access to materials containing information prohibited in Russia.
While Google Russia's operation has been made impossible, the company added that its free services would remain accessible in Russia.
The same month, the telecom regulator asked Google to stop ad campaigns spreading misinformation regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine on YouTube videos.
In response, Google took action against disinformation campaigns about Russia's invasion and blocked the YouTube channels of Russia Today and Sputnik in Europe at the request of the European Union.