Finland launches criminal investigation into Google’s clearing of forest for datacentre site
Summary
Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into possible environmental law breaches tied to forest clearing and drainage for a planned Google datacentre in Muhos. Authorities previously ordered work paused at the Muhos and Otanmäki sites because environmental impact assessments had not been completed before land was cleared.Key Facts
- Authorities allege that Tuike Finland, a Google subsidiary, cleared and drained 330 hectares of forest at the Muhos site before required environmental assessments were complete.
- Police said the investigation will examine possible shortcomings in drainage and water management at the construction site.
- Earlier this month, Finland’s Supervisory Agency ordered Google to halt preparatory work affecting the environment at sites in Muhos and Otanmäki.
- Campaigners estimate that 250,000 trees were cut at Muhos and 150,000 at Otanmäki.
- Google Finland country manager Antti Järvinen apologized for the forest clearing and said the company acted on its understanding of the law at the time.
- Finnish authorities are considering applications for 145 datacentres at different planning stages.
- Google has described its planned €13 billion Finnish artificial intelligence infrastructure project as its largest investment in Europe.
- More than 93,000 people have signed a petition calling for tighter datacentre regulation and compensation for environmental damage.
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