Activists break into building site of Microsoft datacentre in Amsterdam

Activists stormed the site of a new Microsoft datacenter under construction in Amsterdam, amid growing backlash against the ecological and social impacts of the AI boom across Europe. Geef Tegengas, a Dutch direct action group, broke into the construction site at Westpoort Amsterdam, with some protesters clambering onto a crane, igniting flares and attaching helium balloons to equipment.

The break-in occurred independently of a larger pan-European "Stop Dirty Data Centres" campaign, which also staged protests outside the site, while members remained outside the perimeter fence.

Police attempted to prevent the occupation and arrest protesters, but were unsuccessful in deterring the activists. An officer sustained a minor injury during the protest. According to police, hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the fence, and force and tear gas were used to disperse the group.

Similar protests took place in Bristol, UK, Berlin, Germany, Warsaw, Poland, and Zagreb, Croatia. Stop Dirty Data Centres, a coalition of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth branches, did not endorse the Dutch action but acknowledged it was "understandable" for communities to resort to various tactics when they couldn't influence decision-making about datacenter construction.

Datacenter development has raised concerns over environmental damage, resource depletion, and potential societal disruptions, including job losses and the erosion of democracy. In the US, numerous proposed moratoriums on new datacenters were approved during recent midterm elections. Activist Roos Molenaar of Geef Tegengas stated that the struggle against big tech is intertwined with fighting oppression and fascism, emphasizing that the datacenter threatens drinking water resources and fuels wealth inequality.

Microsoft acknowledged the demonstration and expressed respect for the protesters' peaceful right to express their views. The tech giant requested that those on-site leave safely and engage in dialogue about the project and any concerns they may have. The site owner, Pure Data Centres, also respected the right to peaceful protest but emphasized that entering a live construction site was unlawful and dangerous, requesting the protesters to leave and discuss their issues with the development team.

Governments in Europe have backed AI datacenter construction to generate tax revenue and compete with US and Chinese technological advancements, positioning the AI race as a matter of national security. However, these projects have fueled public resentment regarding environmental, energy, human rights, and democratic concerns. A recent Guardian and Investigate Europe investigation revealed hazardous working conditions for some workers constructing these datacenters.