Google was fined $164,000 for failing to store user data inside Russia. A Moscow court said on Tuesday that Google (GOOGL.O) had been fined 15 million roubles ($164,000) for its repeated reluctance to retain the data of Russian customers on servers located inside Russia.
Since Moscow dispatched its armed troops to Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a simmering disagreement between Russia and Western technology businesses over content, censorship, data, and local representation. This issue has continually escalated.
Pressure has been applied to Google’s Russian subsidiary in Russia for failing to remove information that Moscow considers unlawful and for limiting access to some Russian YouTube videos.
To avoid paying employees and suppliers after police confiscated its bank account, the multinational technology company’s Russian division filed for bankruptcy in the summer of 2022.
Though the Kremlin has outlawed Facebook and Twitter, it hasn’t stopped access to Google’s services; the search engine and YouTube platform, which are both free, are still up and running. Google did not immediately answer requests for comments via email.
To sum up, Google’s recent penalties for neglecting to keep user data in Russia emphasize the importance of abiding by data localization regulations. This episode should clearly warn global companies that following local laws is important to avoid severe fines and keep the confidence of authorities and users alike.