Finnish police launch probe over Google data center site

Google's plans for massive data center sites have been mired in controversy and sparked criticism from residents concerned about their impact.(AFP) — Finnish police said Thursday they had launched a criminal investigation into the environmental impact of preparatory work at one of tech giant Google’s planned data center sites.In September, Google announced a 13 billion euro ($15 billion) investment in digital infrastructure at four sites in Finland over the next two years to power its artificial intelligence ambitions.The Oulu Police Department said in a statement that it had decided to investigate Finnish company Tuike, which represents Google, over work conducted in Muhos in northern Finland.The case was being investigated as “environmental degradation,” police said, adding that additional criminal classifications could be specified later in the investigation.Based on preliminary information, there had been “ambiguities and deficiencies in drainage and water management at the construction site of Tuike Finland Oy’s data centre project,” the department said.Police opened the investigation after receiving a request from the Finnish Supervisory Agency.The investigation was expected to be “lengthy” and completed in 2027, police said, adding that an update would likely be provided in December.Google’s plans for massive data center sites have been mired in controversy and sparked criticism from residents concerned about their impact.In early October, the agency ordered work at Google’s data center sites in Muhos and Kajaani temporarily halted until mandatory environmental impact assessments had been completed.Tuike had already cleared about 815 acres of forest in Muhos and nearly 495 acres in Kajaani.Google’s Finland country manager, Antti Jarvinen, has apologized in local media for the forest clearances at data center sites and said the company believed its clear-cutting complied with the law.According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, Tuike also cut trees without the necessary permits while expanding Google’s data center project in Hamina in 2018 and 2019.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads