UK government met 137 businesses over AI datacentres – but no environmental groups
Summary
A Spotlight on Corruption investigation found that UK officials involved in developing AI datacentre policy met 137 businesses from July 2024 to June 2026, but no environmental groups and only two community groups. The investigation also identified 38 ministers, senior civil servants and advisers who left government for jobs at AI companies between July 2024 and September 2026.Key Facts
- Spotlight on Corruption filed 40 freedom of information requests to 18 government agencies.
- The meetings concerned the government’s AI growth zones and datacentre policy.
- Nine of the 38 people who left government had worked at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
- The AI growth zone policy aimed to support large datacentre projects across five UK regions.
- The article reports growing local opposition to planned datacentres, including campaigns in Scotland and east London.
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