Moscow court fines Google over VPN distribution via Play Store app

The Tagansky District Court of Moscow has fined Google LLC 22.8 million rubles (nearly $298,000) for distributing VPN services through the Google Play Store (or Google Play) application, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.

“The court found Google LLC guilty under Part 2 of Article 13.41 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (failure by the owner of an online information resource to remove information when such removal is required under Russian law),” the court ruling stated.

In total, the court issued decisions on six administrative protocols against the company, amounting to a combined fine of 22.8 million rubles.

According to case materials, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor identified six instances in which Google Play Store offered VPN applications for download. The regulator issued a warning demanding that the listings be removed, but Google failed to comply. Roskomnadzor subsequently forwarded the administrative violation protocols to the court.

The hearing proceeded without Google's representative as he didn't appear in court.

By Khagan Isayev