Protesters Breach Microsoft Data Centre Site in Amsterdam and Climb Cranes as Actions Spread Across 16 Countries
Amsterdam — More than 100 protesters breached the construction site of a Microsoft artificial-intelligence data centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on November 6, with some climbing cranes, hanging balloons and dancing while police stood by. The action is part of a growing backlash in Europe and beyond over the rapid build-out of computing power needed for advanced AI systems.
The protest was organized under the 'Stop Dirty Data Centres' coalition, which said actions were planned in 16 countries over November 6 and 7 by environmental groups and digital-rights campaigners calling for major projects to be halted until governments set clearer rules. Other planned actions include a march in Dublin, a protest outside the parliament building in Warsaw and a demonstration against a different Microsoft data centre in Denmark. Police said two groups entered the site by cutting open a gate; at least one person was arrested and items including an angle grinder and climbing equipment were confiscated.
The site, in Amsterdam's Sloterdijk area, is being developed by Britain's Pure Data Centres, backed by Brookfield-owned Oaktree, with a planned investment of more than $1 billion and a capacity of 78 megawatts; Microsoft is set to be its sole tenant. Pure Data Centres said it was committed to engagement with local stakeholders.
Reuters reported that the Netherlands has about 200 data centres planned, under construction or in operation. Organizers say the electricity and water demands of such facilities, and their competition for land with housing, are the main reasons they are demanding a pause on new large-scale projects. (Source: Reuters)
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：荷兰阿姆斯特丹西港工业区航拍（资料图）。照片：Dicklyon，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Aerial view of Amsterdam's Westpoort industrial area, the Netherlands (file photo). Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
