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 an announcement. The resolution is the most recent multi-million greenback superb as a part of Moscow’s more and more assertive marketing campaign in opposition to overseas 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 further particulars.

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

Google should pay the superb inside two months of it getting into into pressure, 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, resembling “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 house in a push to exert extra management over the net area, together with via supporting home gamers to oust their Western rivals.

Gazprom Media – a media conglomerate linked to state-controlled fuel big Gazprom – has been closely selling RuTube, its Russian different to YouTube, which has seen a pointy uptick in site visitors since February.

YouTube, which has blocked Russian state-funded media globally, is beneath heavy strain from Russia’s communications regulator and politicians.

Google stopped promoting internet advertising in Russia in early March however has saved some free providers accessible. Its Russian subsidiary formally filed for chapter after authorities seized its checking account, making it not possible to pay workers and distributors.

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