Activists Protest AI Data Centers Across 15 European Countries

More than 100 activist groups, including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, are organizing two days of protests across 15 European countries on Friday and Saturday. Under the banner Stop Dirty Data Centres, the demonstrations target the environmental and social costs of large-scale data center developments, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence.

Owen Espley, the campaign coordinator, is leading the movement to demand a moratorium on these projects. Protesters cite concerns over carbon emissions, job loss, and the prioritization of tech infrastructure over housing. Planned actions include demonstrations in Warsaw, Dublin, London, and Amsterdam, as well as a protest outside a Microsoft facility in Denmark.

Organizers link the movement to recent U.S. midterm election results, where opposition to data centers reportedly benefited Democratic candidates. While the tech industry argues these facilities drive economic growth, research from the Öko-Institut of Germany suggests that AI data center emissions will be six times 2023 levels by 2030.