A Russian court has fined Google 22.8 million rubles (about $298,000) for allegedly promoting VPN services through its app store. According to state news agency TASS, Moscow's Tagansky District Court found Google guilty of failing to restrict access to VPN apps on the Google Play Store. Reports indicate that Google representatives were not present at the hearing.
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The fine likely stems from a law introduced in March 2024 that prohibits the distribution of information about tools used to circumvent state restrictions on the internet. Since the law was introduced, Russian authorities have frequently pressured Western tech companies to remove VPN services from their respective app stores. As of July 2024, Apple has removed at least 60 VPN apps following requests from Roskomnadzor, including the popular Amnezia VPN.
See also: 2025: Google blocked over 1.75 million app submissions on Google Play
Data from 2025 suggests that nearly 100 VPN apps are no longer available in the Russian version of the App Store.
In contrast, Google has historically been more resistant to these blocking requests. This latest penalty marks an escalation in Russia’s campaign against VPNs. Alongside the legal action, the government has invested 2.27 billion rubles (about $29 million) in developing an AI-based traffic filtering system to automate the detection and blocking of VPN protocols.
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The crackdown coincides with broader restrictions on platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube. As the Kremlin tightens its control over domestic digital space, VPNs remain a vital — if increasingly threatened — resource for Russian citizens seeking to maintain access to the global internet.
