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Protesters broke into a new Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam on Friday and clashed with police. It matters to people near proposed data centers, who share the local power and water, and to companies planning AI capacity.
What happened
- Protesters entered the site, and some climbed a crane while others clashed with police.
- Police gave the protesters 10 minutes to leave, a police spokesperson told local broadcaster AT5. Those who stayed were arrested for trespassing after a complaint from the site’s owner. Police have not given a final number.
- Protest group Geef Tegengas, which means “Push Back,” says it wants construction stopped.
Who owns the site and what they say
The site owner is Pure Data Centres, which plans to invest more than $1 billion in the project. It asked the people on site to leave safely and talk with it about their concerns.
Microsoft said it understands that people feel strongly about the project and respects their right to express that peacefully, but does not condone unlawful actions or actions that put people’s safety at risk.
A wider fight
The Amsterdam protest is the start of two days of actions planned by the “Stop Dirty Data Centres” coalition, with groups in 15 or more European countries expected to join. Other planned actions include a march in Dublin, a protest outside parliament in Warsaw and a demonstration at another Microsoft data center in Denmark. The coalition says it does not want existing data centers closed, but wants major new construction paused until governments set clearer rules.
Campaigners say data centers strain electricity and water supplies. Technology companies say they are essential for AI and cloud computing. The EU’s tech chief, Henna Virkkunen, told Reuters on Thursday that Europe needs more data centers but must build them with care, so that energy bills do not skyrocket and the environment is not harmed.
The protest also follows a rough week for tech stocks, which fell sharply Thursday over fears that Democratic control of Congress could bring tougher rules on the AI boom.
JBizNews Desk | Amsterdam
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