Google seeks settlement with Putin ally as huge fines loom

The appeals court on Monday was due to have ruled on that decision ordering the US technology giant to restore the Tsargrad account or face a daily fine of 100,000 rubles (RM5,649), which would double each week that Google refuses to comply. — AFP

Alphabet Inc’s Google is seeking an out-of-court settlement after a Russian ruling that it must unblock the YouTube account of a TV channel owned by a US-sanctioned backer of President Vladimir Putin.

The Moscow Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeals this week delayed proceedings until Aug 16, following Google’s request for more time for the two sides to reach an amicable agreement in a court filing seen by Bloomberg. The filing said Tsargrad had approached Google with an offer of negotiations after the lower court ruling in April.