More than 100 demonstrators occupied a construction site for a Microsoft data center in the outskirts of Amsterdam on Friday. This protest was part of a larger series of direct actions organized by the “Stop Dirty Data Centers” coalition, which spanned 16 countries across Europe over the weekend.
The coalition is advocating for a substantial halt to the development of new data centers. Protesters argue that these facilities have negative environmental impacts and raise concerns about the influence of major tech companies on democracy and surveillance practices.
A participant in the protest expressed, “There’s for sure a lot of opposition. I think it would be good for governments to do more research into what the people actually want. There’s very much opposition against Big Tech, against their surveillance, against the power that they have over democracies. And they should not be able to get away with that, especially since the people don’t agree.”
This demonstration in Amsterdam marked the beginning of a coordinated effort by activists to draw attention to their demands. Organizers encourage public discourse around the implications of expanding data infrastructure in urban areas, citing significant ecological and social concerns.
As part of the broader movement, similar actions were reported in various cities across Europe, emphasizing a collective call for responsibility in technology development. Further protests are anticipated as the coalition continues its campaign to influence policymakers and the tech industry regarding sustainable practices.
