Russia’s competitors watchdog fined Alphabet’s Google RUB 2 billion (roughly Rs. 260 crore) on Tuesday for abusing its dominant place within the video internet hosting market, the regulator mentioned in a press release. The determination is the most recent multi-million greenback nice as a part of Moscow’s more and more assertive marketing campaign in opposition to international tech firms. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) mentioned the corporate had “abused its dominant position in the YouTube video hosting services market”, with out offering extra particulars.

“We will study the text of the official decision to define our next steps,” Google mentioned in a press release to Reuters.

Google should pay the nice inside two months of it coming into into power, the FAS mentioned.

Russia has slapped Google’s Russian subsidiary with quite a few fines in latest months. Last week a court docket ordered it to pay RUB 21.1 billion (roughly Rs. 2,800 crore) over what prosecutors mentioned have been repeated refusals to take away content material Russia deems unlawful, corresponding to “fake news” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since Moscow launched what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, it has additionally accelerated assaults on Western tech firms at dwelling in a push to exert extra management over the net house, together with by means of supporting home gamers to oust their Western rivals.

Gazprom Media – a media conglomerate linked to state-controlled gasoline 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 stress from Russia’s communications regulator and politicians.

Google stopped promoting internet advertising in Russia in early March however has stored some free providers obtainable. Its Russian subsidiary formally filed for chapter after authorities seized its checking account, making it unattainable to pay employees and distributors.

© Thomson Reuters 2022