Google has been fined 15 million rubles ($164,000) by a Moscow court for its repeated refusal to store Russian users' data on servers within Russia. This is the third time that Google has been fined for this offense in the past year.
The fine was imposed by a magistrate at Moscow's Tagansky district court following a hearing on Tuesday. The court found that Google had violated Russia's law on personal data, which requires foreign companies to store the personal data of Russian citizens on servers located within the country.
Google has been under pressure from Russian authorities to comply with the data storage law for several years. In 2021, the company was fined 3 million rubles ($32,800) for failing to delete allegedly false information about the war in Ukraine. In June 2022, Google's Russian subsidiary filed for bankruptcy after Russian authorities seized its bank account, making it impossible to pay staff and vendors.
Despite the fines and the bankruptcy filing, Google has so far refused to comply with the data storage law. The company has argued that the law is unconstitutional and that it would be too expensive to store Russian users' data on servers within the country.
However, Russian authorities have said that they are prepared to take further action against Google if the company does not comply with the law. In addition to fines, Google could also face blockage of its services in Russia.
The data storage law is part of a broader effort by the Russian government to assert greater control over the internet. The government has also passed laws that require internet service providers to block access to websites that are deemed to be illegal or harmful.
Critics of the data storage law say that it is a violation of privacy and that it could be used to censor the internet. However, the Russian government has defended the law, saying that it is necessary to protect the personal data of Russian citizens.
The fines against Google are likely to have a significant impact on the company's operations in Russia. The company could be forced to comply with the data storage law, or it could face further fines or even blockage of its services.
