Russian regulator Roskomnadzor wants to apply revenue-based fines on Facebook and Google, reports Cnews.ru. Fines could be imposed for repeatedly refusing to remove content banned by Russian legislation.
Fines of 5-10 percent of annual revenues could be imposed, translating into amounts of up to RUB 1.2 billion and RUB 8.5 billion, respectively. According to data from Forbes, revenues in Russia amounted to RUB 12 billion in 2020 for Facebook and to RUB 85 billion for Google.
Russian courts have imposed RUB 180 billion in fines on global social networks and messengers this year. Companies include Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Google and TikTok. They were fined for not taking down content prohibited in the country. The courts imposed a fine of RUB 70 million on Facebook, one of RUB 38.4 million on Twitter, one of RUB 35 million on Telegram, another of RUB 32.5 million on Google and one of RUB 4.1 million on TikTok. Russian social networks have also been fined: Odnoklassniki by RUB 4 million and VKontakte RUB 3 by million.
