Samsung SDI Secures Major LFP Battery Supply Deal in the U.S. 
SpaceX Insider Share Sale Values Company Near $800 Billion Amid IPO Speculation 
Evercore Reaffirms Alphabet’s Search Dominance as AI Competition Intensifies 
Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Sparks Global Debate and Early Challenges 
JD.com Pledges 22 Billion Yuan Housing Support for Couriers as China’s Instant Retail Competition Heats Up 
SpaceX Edges Toward Landmark IPO as Elon Musk Confirms Plans 
Air Transat Reaches Tentative Agreement With Pilots, Avoids Strike and Restores Normal Operations 
SoftBank Shares Slide as Oracle’s AI Spending Plans Fuel Market Jitters 
Azul Airlines Wins Court Approval for $2 Billion Debt Restructuring and New Capital Raise 
China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs 
SK Hynix Considers U.S. ADR Listing to Boost Shareholder Value Amid Rising AI Chip Demand 
CVS Health Signals Strong 2026 Profit Outlook Amid Turnaround Progress 
Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools Raises U.S. National Security Concerns 
SK Hynix Shares Surge on Hopes for Upcoming ADR Issuance 
ANZ Faces Legal Battle as Former CEO Shayne Elliott Sues Over A$13.5 Million Bonus Dispute 
Moore Threads Stock Slides After Risk Warning Despite 600% Surge Since IPO 
The Russian courts previously fined Google, Meta, TikTok, Telegram, and YouTube and later passed a new law, putting a limit to war coverage. The new decree effectively blocked BBC News broadcasting corporation and Facebook as well.
Now, it appears that Google, TikTok, and Meta have already settled their fines with the Russian administration because the names of these tech firms are no longer found in the state bailiff's database for debtors. They are not registered as groups that owe Russia some money, as per Reuters.
Database of Fined Tech Firms
The publication said it was able to access the database. Hence, it was able to confirm that Google, Meta, TikTok, and other firms they control were already removed as registered debtors. Reuters said it saw the list on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
It was reported that while the mentioned tech companies were erased from the Russian database, it was observed that Elon Musk's X social media platform and Twitch are still listed. Their respective fines of 51 million roubles, or $560,730, and 23 million roubles, or $252,879, are also indicated.
New Censorship Laws
Interesting Engineering reported that in the latter part of 2023, a court in Russia imposed a fine on Google, requiring it to pay 4.6 billion roubles or around $50.4 million. On the other hand, Meta was also penalized after it was branded "extremist" in 2022, and the amount corresponds to its Russian revenue.
The country reportedly took censorship to new heights by further restricting coverage of the ongoing war. It has blocked access to foreign media, and President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that criminalizes public opposition or independent news outlets reporting about the Ukraine war.
Offenders face imprisonment of up to 15 years. The new decree took effect immediately, and social media owned by major tech firms were affected. They can now be punished with hefty fines for spreading "false information" according to Russian standards.
Photo by: Pawel Czerwinski/Unsplash
