Protesters attacked the construction site of the Microsoft data center in Amsterdam on Friday, showcasing their protest by climbing cranes and hanging balloons. This action was part of a planned two-day protest in 16 countries, where activists called for a halt to the construction of artificial intelligence data centers due to concerns related to electricity, water, and environmental damage.
Gathering of Over 100 Activists
More than 100 protesters gathered at the site and marched together into the area. Some of them danced during the protest or carried placards reading "Your data center is destroying the world." One protester named Sam van der Beek said, "These data centers are destroying our planet. Because of all the resources they consume, the earth is becoming uninhabitable. That’s why we are here today."
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Response from the Owner and Microsoft
Pure Data Centres, the owner of the site planning to invest over one billion dollars (approximately 890 million euros) in this project, has asked protesters to leave the site safely and express their concerns. Microsoft also stated that it respects the right to peacefully express opinions but does not condone illegal actions.
The coalition "Stop Dirty Data Centers" announced that other planned actions include a march in Dublin, a protest outside the Polish parliament, and a demonstration against another Microsoft data center in Denmark. Activists say these facilities put significant pressure on electricity and water resources and compete for resources with housing construction and other businesses, posing a threat to climate goals.
They have also raised concerns about job losses and the concentration of power in technology companies. The coalition stated that it does not call for the closure of existing data centers but wants governments to establish clearer regulations before continuing large-scale constructions.
Technology companies believe that data centers provide essential infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud services used by businesses, governments, and consumers. This dispute occurs amid increasing scrutiny of the industry's expansion. Google's project in Finland is under criminal investigation due to land clearances, while Italy and Portugal are tightening environmental regulations for data centers.
The Netherlands has approximately 200 data centers planned, under construction, or operational.
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