Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, issuing small but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply.

Tuesday's fine marked a significant increase in fines of around $48 431 that are usually levied.

Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
The Chertanovo District Court in Moscow said Tuesday's fine had been issued for Google's failure to comply with an administrative punishment.

It did not specify which administrative offence the fine was in relation to.

YouTube has drawn particular ire for hosting content Moscow objects to. The video platform used to attract around 50 million daily users in Russia, but those numbers have dropped to around 12 million, according to Google data.

--Reuters--