Russia fines Google $34 million for breaching competition rules

The choice is the newest multi-million greenback effective as a part of Moscow’s more and more assertive marketing campaign in opposition to foreign tech companies.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) stated the corporate had “abused its dominant place within the YouTube video internet hosting companies market”, with out offering extra particulars.

“We’ll examine the textual content of the official resolution to outline our subsequent steps,” Google stated in an announcement to Reuters.

Google should pay the effective inside two months of it getting into into pressure, the FAS stated.

Russia has slapped Google’s Russian subsidiary with quite a few fines in latest months. Final week a court docket ordered it to pay 21.1 billion roubles ($358.7 million) over what prosecutors stated had been repeated refusals to take away content material Russia deems unlawful, reminiscent of “faux information” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Uncover the tales of your curiosity

Since Moscow launched what it calls its “particular navy operation” in Ukraine, it has additionally accelerated assaults on Western tech firms at residence in a push to exert extra management over the net area, together with via supporting home gamers to oust their Western rivals.

Gazprom Media – a media conglomerate linked to state-controlled fuel large Gazprom – has been closely selling RuTube, its Russian various to YouTube, which has seen a pointy uptick in site visitors since February.

YouTube, which has blocked Russian state-funded media globally, is underneath heavy strain from Russia’s communications regulator and politicians.

Google stopped promoting internet advertising in Russia in early March however has saved some free companies out there. Its Russian subsidiary formally filed for chapter after authorities seized its checking account, making it inconceivable to pay workers and distributors.