The Court’s decision demonstrates further contraction of expression in Russia, and the government’s continuous attempts to censor the Internet by obligating Internet search engines to filter search results. Some of the web pages listed in the court ruling as prohibited offer information resources critical of Russia and the Russian authorities.
Google has been prosecuted four times previously for its failure to filter Internet search results in Russia: According to Interfax, Google got the initial fine issued by Roskomnadzor for the refusal to connect to FSIS and filter Internet search results on December 11, 2018, in the amount of 500 thousand rubles (around USD$7.6 thousand at the time); As Interfax reports, Roskomnadzor followed with another fine of 700 thousand rubles (around USD$11 100) for insufficient filtering: on July 18, 2019; On December 17, 2020, Magistrates’ Court №422 in the Tagansky District of Moscow, Russia, held that Google LLC committed an administrative offense under Part 2.1 of Article 13.40 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, and according to Interfax, the company was sentenced to a fine of 3 million rubles (around USD$41 000 ); and on May 27, 2021, Magistrates’ Court №422 in the Tagansky District of Moscow, found Google LLC guilty of an administrative offense under Part 2.1 of Article 13.40 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which, as reported by TASS, led to to an administrative fine of 3.5 million rubles (around USD$47 9000).
This case did not set a binding or persuasive precedent either within or outside its jurisdiction. The significance of this case is undetermined at this point in time.