Groups from 15 European Countries to Stage Protests Against Data Centers

More than 100 organizations from 15 European countries are set to stage coordinated protests against data centers. The demonstrations, to be held over two days from the 6th to the 7th, will run under the banner 'Stop Dirty Data Centres.' Data centers are large facilities that store and process vast amounts of data, consuming enormous quantities of electricity and water. Organizers said the campaign was launched amid growing concerns about the impact of data center expansion on local communities, shared infrastructure, land, water and energy use, housing, jobs, and the cost of living.

Protests will take place in Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Over the two days, events will include a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, a march in Dublin, a protest outside a Microsoft office in Denmark, and an educational event near a planned site in Amsterdam. Owen Espley, coordinator of the pan-European protests, said: "Communities and civil society across Europe are rising up against the burden of data centers that devour energy, water, and land."

The German Institute for Ecological Research (Öko-Institut) projects that carbon emissions from AI data centers will reach six times 2023 levels by 2030. The campaign also raises concerns that go beyond environmental issues, including the impact of AI chatbots on human mental health, the threat of AI displacing jobs, and the problem of prioritizing data centers over housing.