Protesters entered a construction site for a new Microsoft data center in Amsterdam on Friday, with some scaling a crane and setting off flares while others confronted police. The demonstration was part of a wider wave of planned protests across Europe targeting data centers.
Nathan Timmer of the protest group Geef Tegengas, which translates to "Push Back," told local broadcaster AT5 that the activists aimed to halt construction of the facility. "We don’t want it to be built. Nobody needs it," Timmer stated, expressing concerns that the centers would be used for "AI slop, AI warfare, data surveillance, and committing genocides."
Microsoft acknowledged the protest, stating, "We understand that people feel strongly about the project, and we respect their right to express those views peacefully. However, we do not condone any actions that are unlawful or that put people’s safety at risk."
Organizers from the "Stop Dirty Data Centres" movement plan actions in 15 European countries, including Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and the U.K., from November 6-7. They are advocating for a moratorium on large-scale data center developments, citing social and environmental concerns related to the significant energy and water consumption of these facilities. Owen Espley, coordinator for StopDirtyDataCentres.eu, noted a disconnect between public sentiment and the enthusiasm for artificial intelligence among some leaders.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Germany, where protesters gathered outside a data center near Berlin. Caro Weber, a spokeswoman for the German action, called for an end to "blind construction of data centers around Germany, regardless of any environmental concerns."
In Italy, opposition to the rapidly expanding data center industry is also growing, particularly in the Lombardy region. Activists argue that the boom in facilities supporting cloud computing and artificial intelligence is outpacing public consultation and environmental oversight. In Milan on October 10, over 1,000 individuals and representatives from about 40 local committees participated in what was described as Italy's first national demonstration against data centers, calling for a moratorium and a national strategy for the industry.
Data centers have become a point of contention globally due to their substantial power and water requirements. The sector is projected to see significant investment, with Europe anticipated to attract $5.6 trillion in cumulative capital expenditure from 2026 through 2050, according to PwC’s Global Data Centre Outlook 2026–50. The United States is forecast to attract $15.1 trillion during the same period.