Protesters stormed a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam on Friday, scaling a crane and igniting flares while others clashed with police. The group Geef Tegengas, meaning Push Back, led the occupation to halt the project. Activists argue the facility will solely serve AI applications they oppose, including surveillance and military uses. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also joined the protests, with police later removing some activists.
Microsoft acknowledged the demonstration, stating it respects peaceful expression of concerns but condemns unlawful actions. The protests coincide with growing European resistance to data centers over their environmental impact and energy consumption. Similar demonstrations occurred in Germany, Poland, and Italy, with activists demanding moratoriums on new projects.
In Berlin, protesters criticized unchecked data center expansion, while Warsaw saw around 100 demonstrators opposing planned facilities. Italy's fast-growing data center industry faces rising opposition, particularly in Lombardy. The movement gained momentum with a large protest in Milan last month, calling for stricter regulations.
Europe is expected to invest $5.6 trillion in data centers from 2026 through 2050, according to PwC's Global Data Centre Outlook. The U.S. is projected to spend $15.1 trillion during the same period. Protesters argue this growth outpaces environmental oversight and public consultation.