Activists break into building site of Microsoft datacentre in Amsterdam
Separate actions also take place outside fence and across Europe in backlash against impact of AI boom
TL;DR
- Activists from Geef Tegengas occupied a Microsoft datacentre construction site in Amsterdam, protesting the AI boom's negative impacts.
- The protest involved climbing equipment, lighting flares, and hanging banners objecting to Microsoft's services.
- Police used force and teargas to dispel protesters, with one officer sustaining minor injuries.
- Similar, separate protests occurred across Europe, including in Bristol, Berlin, Warsaw, and Zagreb.
- The demonstrations are part of a wider backlash against the energy consumption and societal consequences of AI development.
- Activists criticize the lack of transparency and public input in datacentre development.
- Microsoft and Pure Data Centres acknowledged the protests, emphasizing safety and respecting the right to peaceful expression.
- Governments are supporting datacentre construction for economic and national security reasons, but they have become a focal point for public anger.