Russia has slapped Google with an astronomical fine of $20 decillion, or 2 undecillion rubles, over the tech giant’s removal of Russian state-backed TV channels from YouTube. This 33-digit penalty, which has been mounting for four years since the initial court case in 2020, far exceeds Google’s entire market value and dwarfs even the global GDP, which stands at around $110 trillion.
Legal experts note that such an enormous fine is largely symbolic. Roman Yankovsky from the HSE Institute of Education explained that Russia has no real way to enforce this penalty internationally, as Google’s market cap sits at just over $2 trillion. The original case stemmed from YouTube’s ban of the Russian channel Tsargrad, following US sanctions imposed on the channel’s parent company.
While Google hasn’t commented, analysts view the fine as part of Russia’s broader pushback against Western tech companies and their content policies.
The European Commission has requested information from YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok regarding the algorithms used to recommend content to users. Concerns have been raised about the influence of these systems on issues like elections, mental health, and protecting minors. The inquiry falls under the Digital Services Act (DSA), aiming to address potential systemic risks, including the spread of illegal content such as hate speech and drug promotion.
TikTok faces additional scrutiny about measures to prevent bad actors from manipulating the platform, especially during elections. These platforms must provide detailed information on their systems by 15 November. Failure to comply could result in further action, including potential fines.
The DSA mandates that major tech companies take more responsibility in tackling illegal and harmful content. In the past, the EU has initiated similar non-compliance proceedings with other tech giants like Meta, AliExpress, and TikTok over content regulation.
During the recent ‘Made on YouTube’ event, several new features were announced, with the highlight being the integration of AI into YouTube Shorts. The company is incorporating Google DeepMind’s AI video generation model, Veo, first introduced at Google’s I/O 2024. This integration will allow creators to generate high-quality backgrounds and six-second video clips in various cinematic styles. Veo is capable of producing 1080p clips and is positioned to compete with similar AI tools from OpenAI, Runway, and others. It is considered an upgrade to YouTube‘s Dream Screen, launched in 2023, and is intended to enhance the content creation process by making it smoother and more dynamic.
The new Veo-powered feature in Dream Screen allows creators to choose from AI-generated images and convert them into short video clips, enabling smoother transitions in content creation. This tool is expected to enhance storytelling on Shorts, for instance, by adding cityscapes or filler scenes to enrich the narrative. The resulting videos will be watermarked using DeepMind’s SynthID technology to indicate that they are AI-produced content.
YouTube has introduced new features to improve user interaction in addition to the Veo update. One of these features is “Jewels,” which allows viewers to send digital items to creators during livestreams, similar to TikTok’s gifting option. The platform has also expanded its automatic dubbing tool to cover more languages and is testing more expressive voice dubbing. Furthermore, YouTube has added AI brainstorming tools for video ideas, AI-generated thumbnails, and AI-assisted comments to help creators engage more effectively with their audiences.
YouTube and the e-commerce platform Shopee have introduced a new online shopping service in Indonesia. This initiative aims to expand across Southeast Asia in response to increased competition from TikTok’s e-commerce ambitions. As part of this collaboration, users can now directly purchase products they see on YouTube through links to Shopee, which is owned by Sea Ltd. This service, already available in South Korea and the U.S., will soon be launched in Thailand and Vietnam.
The partnership is happening as Southeast Asia’s e-commerce market is growing rapidly, with Indonesia being a key focus due to its strong online shopping demand. Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and Shopee will be competing with TikTok, which has strengthened its regional presence through its own shopping platform called TikTok Shop. In 2023, the TikTok service experienced significant growth and became the second-largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, just behind Shopee.
YouTube executives did not provide details on the extent of the partnership but suggested that there could be future collaborations with other e-commerce platforms. The e-commerce sector in the region is expected to keep growing, having reached $114.6 billion in gross merchandise value in 2023.
YouTube has terminated the Tenet Media channel and four other channels run by its owner, Lauren Chen, after an indictment by the US Department of Justice. The Justice Department filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT, accusing them of using shell companies to funnel $10 million to an unnamed US company to produce online content aimed at influencing the 2024 presidential election.
Prosecutors said the accused used fake identities to hire an American firm to create videos designed to deepen political divides in the United States. Though the company was not identified by name, court details point to Tenet Media, a Nashville-based organisation responsible for nearly 2,000 YouTube videos in under a year.
Tenet Media did not respond to requests for comment after its channels were removed by YouTube.
The indictment reflects growing concerns about foreign interference in the United States elections, with platforms like YouTube taking action against channels involved in such activities.
Google has introduced a new AI-powered chat assistant to help YouTube creators recover hacked accounts. Currently, in testing, the tool is accessible to select users and aims to guide them through securing their accounts. The AI assistant will assist affected users by helping them regain control of their login details and reverse any changes made by hackers. Presently, the feature supports only the English language, but there are plans to expand its availability.
To use the new tool, users must visit the YouTube Help web page and log into their Google Account. They will then find the option to ‘Recover a hacked YouTube channel’ under the Help Centre menu. This new option opens a chat window with the AI assistant, who will guide them through securing their accounts.
Google’s latest innovation reflects its ongoing commitment to enhancing user security. Although the tool is in its early stages, efforts are being made to make it available to all YouTube creators.
As cyber threats evolve, Google’s AI assistant represents an important step forward in providing robust security solutions. The initiative shows the company’s dedication to protecting its users’ online presence.
YouTube has shut down the video channel of the Portuguese ultranationalist group Grupo 1143 for violating its hate speech policies. The action came after the New York Times contacted the platform while investigating how online hate speech can incite real-world violence, using Portugal as a case study. YouTube stated that it prohibits content glorifying hateful supremacist propaganda and took down the channel linked to the group, which is led by neo-Nazi activist Mario Machado.
Machado, who has a criminal history including charges of assault and racial discrimination, criticised the shutdown on X, claiming it was an attempt by the ‘global Left’ to silence his nationalist organisation. Despite the YouTube ban, Grupo 1143’s accounts on X and Telegram remain active. The group, known for organising anti-immigration and anti-Islam protests, is currently under investigation by Portuguese authorities for its possible connection to violent attacks on migrants earlier this year, although it denies any involvement.
YouTube’s hate speech policy strictly bans content promoting violence or hatred based on attributes like immigration status, nationality, or religion. In the first quarter of 2024, YouTube removed over 157,000 videos worldwide for violating these policies.
As Russia tightens its grip on independent media, YouTube remains a vital platform for free expression, particularly for opposition voices. However, this may only last for a while longer. Recent mass outages reported by Russian internet services signal a possible shift, with lawmakers blaming Google’s outdated infrastructure for the slowdowns—a claim Google disputes.
The video platform, which has served as a key outlet for dissenting opinions, faces potential blocking in Russia. With independent media largely banned, YouTube has become a crucial source of opposition content, such as the widely viewed video by the late Alexei Navalny accusing President Vladimir Putin of corruption.
Experts warn that banning YouTube could severely impact online freedom and disrupt Russia’s internet connectivity. The widespread use of VPNs to bypass restrictions could also strain the country’s internet infrastructure, further complicating the situation.
Why does it matter?
The Russian government has historically throttled internet traffic to silence dissent, but it now relies on a more sophisticated censorship system. Despite the growing pressure, YouTube remains accessible, likely due to fears of public backlash and the potential strain on Russia’s networks.
As Moscow encourages users to switch to domestic platforms like VK Video, the future of YouTube in Russia hangs in the balance. While some non-political content creators may migrate, opposition channels could struggle to maintain their reach if forced off YouTube.
YouTube is set to introduce a new feature, ‘Brainstorm with Gemini’, powered by generative AI. Aimed at enhancing the creative process, this tool will help content creators generate ideas for videos, suggest headlines, and offer thumbnail options based on trending topics.
The feature is currently in a testing phase and is only available to a select group of creators. By using data from Google Search activity, ‘Brainstorm with Gemini’ provides prompts and insights tailored to the creators’ needs. That could potentially revolutionise the way content is made, offering a more personalised experience for audiences.
Creators can access the feature within YouTube Studio, where they can choose between the inspiration tool and the new ‘Brainstorm with Gemini’ option. As they explore new content ideas, the AI-driven tool is designed to keep them ahead of trends and improve their reach.
YouTube has emphasised that the rollout of this feature to a broader audience will depend on feedback from the creators involved in the initial experiment. The move aligns with YouTube’s broader strategy of integrating AI to enhance the platform’s capabilities.
YouTube experienced a mass outage in Russia on Thursday, with users reporting that the platform was inaccessible without using virtual private networks (VPNs). The outage comes amid increasing criticism from Russian authorities, who have been targeting the platform for its role in hosting content from Kremlin opponents, which has been largely removed from other social media sites within Russia. Reuters journalists in Russia confirmed the issue, with access only available through some mobile devices.
Russian internet monitoring services, including Sboi.rf, reported thousands of glitches affecting YouTube. Despite these issues, neither Google, the parent company of YouTube, nor Russia’s state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, provided immediate comments on the situation.
In recent weeks, YouTube’s download speeds in Russia have noticeably slowed, a development blamed by Russian lawmakers on Google’s alleged failure to invest in local infrastructure. Alexander Khinshtein, head of a parliamentary committee on information policy, warned that YouTube speeds could drop by as much as 70%, labelling it necessary to pressure the platform into complying with Russian legislation. YouTube, however, rejected these claims, maintaining that the issues were not due to any technical actions on its part.
