{
  "id": 13677234,
  "title": "Google’s second-biggest data centre faces a backlash that goes far beyond AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/googles-second-biggest-data-centre-faces-a-backlash-that-goes-far",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T07:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/business/2026-10-11-googles-second-biggest-data-centre-faces-a-backlash-that-goes-far-beyond-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Campaigners in India are protesting against Google's planned AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, fearing the facility will strain local resources and bring few jobs. Excavators have already cleared forest and farmland for the $15 billion project, which will occupy 600 acres. Farmer Chandala Sadamma, whose mango and cashew trees were destroyed, expressed her sorrow at the loss of her land. Google has promised financial compensation, new housing, and advanced air cooling technology to address water and power concerns. However, residents remain skeptical and demand a moratorium on new data centres until independent environmental and social impact assessments are conducted. The United States is also facing protests over data centres, with concerns over water usage. Despite the economic benefits Google claims the facility will bring, some argue for greater focus on labor-intensive industries to address local employment and water scarcity issues.",
  "summary": "Google’s $15bn (R248bn) India data centre promises thousands of jobs, but fears over water shortages, environmental damage and lost farmland are fuelling a growing backlash.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "As companies pour billions into Earth-based AI infrastructure, Google is taking the data center race off-planet",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/as-companies-pour-billions-into-earth-based-ai-infrastructure-google",
        "published": "2026-10-10T10:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Google’s $15 billion AI data centre in India faces local resistance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/googles-15-billion-ai-data-centre-in-india-faces-local-resistance",
        "published": "2026-10-11T04:38:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}