Pinterest and Google Face Renewed Russian Litigation Against Foreign Technology

Cryptopolitan’s Hannah Collymore reports that Russia has initiated lawsuits against Pinterest, the Wikimedia Foundation, and Google, continuing its strategy of pursuing foreign technology companies for alleged violations of local internet regulations.

The actions in Moscow’s Tagansky District Court reflect Moscow’s effort to exert control over global platforms operating within its borders, raising questions about the sustainability of foreign companies in Russia.

The disputes are rooted in a regulatory framework overseen by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications authority, which has repeatedly fined US-based technology firms for non-compliance.

In the latest rulings, Pinterest was ordered to pay 10 million rubles, while Google received a 7 million ruble penalty. Twitch was fined 61 million rubles, and the Wikimedia Foundation 6 million rubles.

These measures follow years of escalating penalties, including extraordinary fines such as the multi-decillion ruble judgment imposed on Google in 2022 for blocking Russian state media on YouTube.

The intensification of enforcement coincided with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted broader crackdowns on Western platforms.

Since 2020, Moscow has pursued fines that began at a daily rate of 100,000 rubles but quickly escalated for persistent non-compliance.

By 2022, Google’s Russian subsidiary was declared bankrupt, and the company ceased commercial operations in the country. Other firms, such as Twitter and Meta Platforms, faced immediate bans, with Meta designated as “extremist.”

While certain penalties appeared resolved in early 2024, the newest round of lawsuits demonstrates that tensions remain high.

Legal teams should be aware that Russia’s litigation campaign creates an unpredictable operating environment for foreign platforms. Companies that remain in Russia face significant compliance risks and the potential for forced withdrawal from the country.

The uncertainty underscores the importance of closely monitoring regulatory exposure in jurisdictions experiencing geopolitical conflict.