MOSCOW A Moscow court said on Friday it was fining Alphabet's Google 7.2 billion roubles US $98 million for the failure to delete content Russia deems illegal, the first revenue-based fine in Russia.
Moscow has been under pressure on big tech this year in a campaign that critics characterise as an attempt to exert tighter control over the internet, something they say threatens individual and corporate freedom.
Google will look at the court ruling before it decides on further steps, according to an email sent by the company.
On Friday, the court fined Meta Platforms 2 billion roubles US $27.15 million on the same grounds. Russia's communication watchdog Roskomnadzor said that Facebook and Instagram failed to remove two thousand pieces that were in violation of Russian laws whereas Google keeps 2,600 pieces of banned content.
Meta Platforms did not respond to a request for comment.
Russia has imposed small fines on foreign technology companies throughout the year, but Friday's penalties are the first time it has exacted a percentage of companies' annual Russian turnover, increasing the sum of the fine.
It didn't specify the percentages, but Reuters calculations show that Google's fine is just over 8 per cent.
Russia has ordered companies to delete posts promoting drug abuse and dangerous pastimes, information about homemade weapons and explosives, as well as ones by groups it designates as extremist or terrorists.
Google, which has paid more than 32 million roubles in fines over content violations this year, is at odds with Moscow on a number of issues.
Last week a sanctioned Russian businessman claimed victory over Google in a court case that could see the tech giant hit with another heavy fine.
Moscow has demanded that 13 foreign and mostly U.S. technology companies, including Google and Meta Platforms, be officially represented on Russian soil by January 1 or face possible restrictions or outright bans.