European activists plan protests against major datacentre projects

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 14:31 · Archive

More than 100 campaign groups across 15 European countries are staging two days of protests against datacentres, organised under the banner 'Stop Dirty Data Centres'. They are calling for a moratorium on large projects, citing environmental and social costs that 'we can no longer afford'. Datacentres have become a focal point for concerns over artificial intelligence, given their role in developing and operating the technology.

Planned actions include protests outside the Polish parliament in Warsaw, a march in Dublin, a demonstration outside a Microsoft datacentre in Denmark, a 'teach-in' near a planned datacentre site in Amsterdam, and an event in the Brick Lane area of east London, where a datacentre development has faced local opposition. Owen Espley, the campaign's coordinator, said communities are sending a message about the harms of datacentres. Groups backing the protests include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Foxglove. Organisers expect attendance to range from small numbers at some events to several hundred at larger gatherings.

How it is being reported

• 'Stop dirty datacenters': Europe-wide protests planned demanding building moratoriumCurbing compute farms played a big part in recent US elections, now Euro activists are making their feelings knownThe Register · 5 Nov, 13:29
• Activists across Europe prepare two days of protests against datacentresMore than 100 campaign groups will join together in 15 countries this week to call for a halt to major AI projects Protesters across Europe are planning two days of action against datacentres this week with demonstrations taking place in 15 countries. More than 100 groups are joining together for the “ Stop Dirty Data Centres ” events on Friday and Saturday. They are calling for a moratorium on large projects, citing environmental and social costs that “we can no longer afford”. Continue reading...Guardian Technology · 5 Nov, 09:00

In this story: European Union · Friends of the Earth · Greenpeace · Foxglove · Microsoft · Warsaw · Dublin · Amsterdam

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