Russian courts have fined Google and TikTok for failing to remove prohibited content, escalating tensions between Moscow and global tech platforms. 

Per a Reuters report, the Tagansky district court in Moscow imposed a 5 million ruble ($58,038) penalty on Google and a 4 million ruble (~$46,000) fine on TikTok for non-compliance with orders from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator.

The fines stem from the companies’ failure to identify and remove content similar to previously banned material. 

This action is part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to control online content, which have resulted in numerous fines for foreign technology platforms in recent years.

In November 2023, The Associated Press (AP) reported that a magistrate at Tagansky district court fined Google 15M rubles (about $164,200) after the company repeatedly refused to store personal data on Russian citizens inside the country. 

AP added that Google was also fined over the same charges in June and August 2021. 

The company is also facing particular scrutiny from Russian authorities for removing YouTube channels belonging to Russian media outlets and public figures. 

Roskomnadzor has history with TikTok. 

According to Freedom House, the Russian regulator issued fines against the platform in October 2022 for refusing to remove “LGBT propaganda. 

In August 2022, TikTok was fined again because the platform did not take down “prohibited information.” 

In March 2022, TikTok prevented users in Russia from live streaming and uploading new videos because of a law criminalizing the spread of fake news.