Russian court fines Google for news aggregator

Moscow City Court has fined Google 7.2bn roubles ($98m; £74m) for failing to remove banned content from its news aggregator.

The court found that Google had repeatedly violated Russian law by not removing content deemed illegal by prosecutors.

The banned content included links to sites run by Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, who was jailed in February.

Google said it has faced increasing pressure from Russian regulators in recent months. It said it would appeal against the fine.

The court found Google guilty of repeatedly violating a law that requires internet companies to remove content at the request of prosecutors. The company had been warned twice before about failing to comply with the law.

Google said the content it was ordered to remove included links to sites run by Navalny and his allies, as well as links to other sites deemed illegal by Russian authorities. The company said it had removed some of the content but had not been able to remove all of it.

The fine is the latest in a series of clashes between Google and Russian regulators. In recent months, the company has been fined for allegedly failing to store Russians' personal data on servers in Russia and for allegedly promoting content that is harmful to children.

The fine is a significant blow to Google, which is one of the most popular websites in Russia. It is also a sign of the increasing pressure that foreign tech companies are facing in Russia.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a Google user in Russia, you may notice that some content is no longer available. Google has said that it will appeal the fine, but it is unclear how long the appeals process will take.

The fine is a reminder of the importance of being aware of the laws of the country you are visiting. If you are unsure about whether or not something is legal, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid it.