Russia fines Google for distributing VPN services, TASS reports

FILE PHOTO: The Google logo is seen on the Google house at CES 2024, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Steve Marcus//File Photo

MOSCOW, ⁠Feb 25 (Reuters) - ⁠A Russian court ‌has fined Alphabet's Google over 22 ​million roubles ($288,000) for ⁠distributing ⁠VPN (virtual private network) services ⁠on ‌the Google ⁠Play app store, state ​news ‌agency TASS reported ⁠on ​Wednesday.

VPNs provide a means ⁠for Russians to ​access foreign tech platforms and ⁠content that Russia has banned or restricted.

($1 = ​76.4500 ⁠roubles)

(Reporting by Reuters; ​Writing ‌by Gleb Stolyarov; ​Editing by Mark Trevelyan)