Google hit with another fine. This time, Moscow’s Taganksy District Court hit Google with a fine of 22.8 million rubles (roughly $298,000) for allegedly promoting VPN services via the Play Store. The fine is possibly based on a law that was introduced in March 2024. This law prohibits the sharing of information regarding tools, like VPN, used to get around state internet restrictions.
Google hit with $298,000 fine for promoting VPN apps on the Play Store in Russia
TASS, a state-run news agency, reports that Moscow’s Court found Google guilty of failing to restrict access to VPN applications on the Google Play Store. Reports suggest that there were no Google representatives present at the hearing. The regulator, Roskomnadzor, presented evidence regarding six specific advertisements that encouraged users to download VPNs.
Furthermore, the agency notes that Google ignored previous orders to take down the content. Since the law’s introduction in 2024, Russia has repeatedly demanded that Western tech firms remove VPN services from their app stores.
The tech giant has ignored previous orders
On its part, following requests from Roskomnadzor, Apple has removed around 60 VPN applications since July 2024. The list includes popular names like Amnezia VPN. Data from 2025 reportedly shows that nearly 100 VPN apps are now unavailable on the Russian App Store. In contrast, Google didn’t comply and has historically been resisting these blocking requests.
The latest fine on Google hints that Russia is escalating its campaign against VPNs. The government has invested 2.27 billion rubles (around $29 million) into developing an AI-driven traffic filtering system. This is to automatically detect and block VPN protocols. The crackdown aligns with broader restrictions on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube.
As the government tightens its digital grip, VPNs become a vital, but increasingly threatened, tool for Russians trying to access the global internet.
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