Anti-artificial intelligence protests are spreading in Europe: Data center construction was raided, 200 people were detained

While investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure are gaining momentum across Europe, protests against the environmental impacts of data centers are also growing.

Activists entered the construction site of Microsoft's new data center in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, on Friday and demanded that the work be stopped. During the demonstrations, a fight broke out between the police and the protesters.

Nathan Timmer, representative of the protest group Geef Tegengas (Oppose), told local broadcaster AT5 that they occupied the area to stop the construction.

"We don't want this built. Nobody needs it," Timmer said. Claiming that the data center will be used for unqualified content produced by artificial intelligence, military activities and surveillance applications, Timmer stated that they will continue their actions until the construction is stopped.

During the demonstrations, which were also attended by pro-Palestinian activists, some protesters climbed onto cranes and lit flares. Police began removing demonstrators from the construction site in the afternoon.

Dutch police announced on Friday evening that 200 people were detained on suspicion of trespassing.

In its statement regarding the protests, Microsoft stated that it respects citizens' rights to express their opinions peacefully.

"We understand that people have strong opinions about the project and we respect their right to express these views peacefully. However, we do not accept actions that are illegal or endanger people's safety," the company spokesperson said.

CALL TO ACTION IN 15 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The protest in Amsterdam was organized as part of a growing movement against data centers across Europe.

Dozens of non-governmental organizations and local initiatives, gathered under the name "Stop Dirty Data Centres", called for action in 15 European countries on Friday and Saturday.

Protesters in countries including Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France and the UK have demanded a temporary halt to large-scale data center projects.

Activists argue that the high electricity and water consumption of data centers deepens environmental problems, and that new investments are implemented without sufficient public participation and environmental control.

StopDirtyDataCentres.eu coordinator Owen Espley stated that there are significant differences between politicians' approach to artificial intelligence investments and society's expectations.

"There is a serious gap between the approach of elected leaders to the great expectations created for artificial intelligence and the public's opinion," Espley said.

PROTESTS WERE ALSO HELD IN GERMANY AND POLAND

Anti-data center protests have also spread to Germany and Poland.

About 12 people gathered in front of a data center on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany's capital.

Protesters' spokesperson Caro Weber stated that they oppose the establishment of new facilities without taking environmental concerns into account and said, "We want to stop the uncontrolled construction of data centers throughout Germany. This is extremely dangerous for our future."

In Poland, approximately 100 people demonstrated in front of the parliament building. Citizens living in areas where new data centers are planned to be established around Warsaw participated in the protest.

Reactions to data center investments are also increasing in Italy, one of Europe's important digital infrastructure centers.

In the protests, which intensified especially in the Lombardy region in the north of the country, the environmental impacts of new projects and the lack of adequate informing of the public in the decision-making processes are criticized.

The anti-data center movement was brought to the national agenda with a widely attended demonstration held in Milan on October 10.

More than a thousand people and representatives of about 40 local committees gathered in Piazza della Scala Square. Organizers described the action as the first national-scale protest against data centers in Italy.

The demonstrators demanded that the construction of new facilities be temporarily halted and that a national strategy be prepared to regulate the growth of the sector.

5.6 TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IS EXPECTED IN DATA CENTERS

While social reactions to data centers are increasing, the size of the investments planned to be made in the sector also attracts attention.

According to the "Global Data Center Outlook 2026–50" report by international consultancy company PwC, Europe is expected to attract a total capital investment of 5.6 trillion dollars in data centers in the 2026-2050 period.

It is estimated that this amount will constitute approximately 18 percent of data center investments worldwide.

In the same period, data center investments in the USA are expected to reach 15.1 trillion dollars.

While the demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies increases data center investments, the energy consumption, water use and environmental impacts of the facilities are at the center of discussions across Europe.