Russia fines Google for not complying with search results law

Russia fined Google 500,000 roubles ($7,530) for failing to comply with a legal requirement to remove certain entries from its search results, Russia's communications watchdog was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.

Russia said last month that it had opened a civil case against Google as it had not joined a state registry that lists banned websites that Moscow believes contain illegal information and was therefore not compliant with the law.

Alexander Zharov, head of watchdog Roscomnadzor, said Russia could open a new case against Google if it did not fall in line with the law, TASS reported.

Google did not reply to a request for immediate comment. Over the past five years, Russia has introduced tougher internet laws that require search engines to delete some search results, messaging services to share encryption keys with security services, and social networks to store Russian users' personal data on servers within the country.

Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google defended the integrity of the company's products a day ahead of a congressional hearing where he is expected to face tough questions from U.S. lawmakers.

The technology company has been under fire on Capitol Hill over issues including why it delayed disclosing vulnerabilities with its Google+ social network, whether it will restart its search engine in China and if it is biased against Republicans.

Three Democratic senators wrote the Federal Trade Commission in October asking the agency to investigate Google+. In written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee made public, CEO Sundar Pichai said he led the company "without political bias." "We work hard to ensure the integrity of our products, and we've put a number of checks and balances in place to ensure they continue to live up to our standards," Pichai's testimony said. "I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our prod- ucts continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests."

Pichai agreed in September to testify over Republican concerns that the company is biased against conservatives. Google has repeatedly denied this.

The company faced renewed criticism on Capitol Hill after senior executives skipped a high-profile Senate Intelligence Committee hearing earlier in September.

Google previously told U.S. lawmakers it was considering "a variety of options" to offer additional services in China, but declined to detail plans for addressing Chinese censorship. The company has been criticized after reports it was considering re-entering China's search engine market and would comply with its internet censorship and surveillance policies.

Pichai said in his testimony that "even as we expand into new markets we never forget our American roots." He added that "we do work, and we will continue to work, with the government to keep our country safe and secure."