Protesters in Amsterdam broke into a construction site for a Microsoft data center on Friday, leading to clashes with police. Dutch authorities reported detaining between 150 and 200 individuals for trespassing during the demonstration. One protester told a local broadcaster that the goal was to halt the data center's construction, according to the Associated Press.
Microsoft acknowledged the protest through a spokesperson, 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."
The incident comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of data centers in the US, particularly following the recent midterm elections. Many Democrats have pledged to tighten regulations on data centers due to their high electricity and water consumption. Earlier this year, the town of Plattsburgh, New York, held a public hearing to discuss a temporary moratorium on AI data centers and crypto mining operations.