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Protesters break into Microsoft data center site in Amsterdam

Policy1 min read

Protesters broke into a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam. They say they are against AI and against Microsoft's business in the Israel war.

What happened

About 100 people got into a construction site for a new Microsoft data center on the edge of Amsterdam. Some climbed a crane and hung a banner that said "fuck AI". Others showed a banner saying "Microsoft powers genocide" and shouted slogans. The protest was organized by a group called Geef Tegengas.

Key facts

  • About 100 people entered the site.
  • The plan is for three data center towers, each 85 meters tall.
  • Amsterdam banned new data centers until 2030. The ban was announced at the end of 2023.
  • Microsoft will be the only tenant (the only company using the building).

Why the site is controversial

A data center is a large building full of computers that run websites, cloud services, and AI tools. The project was first planned in 2016, before the city's ban. British developer Pure Data Centres is building it. The site found some legal loopholes, so construction could go ahead. Protests like this have also happened in Dublin and across Europe, and in the US, local people often push back on new data centers because of their effect on the community.

Why it matters

The story shows how fights over AI and data centers are growing. Local people worry about land, power use, and rules. Microsoft has also faced protests from its own former employees, and it dropped a large UK data center project last month after power supply problems.

What to watch

  • Whether the construction project keeps going or is stopped.
  • Whether Amsterdam or other cities add new limits on data centers.
  • Whether more protests happen at Microsoft sites in Europe and the US.

Glossary

Microsoft
A large US tech company that makes software like Windows and Office and runs cloud services.
data center
A large building full of computers that store data and run online services and AI tools.
Pure Data Centres
A British company that is building the new Microsoft data center site in Amsterdam.
Geef Tegengas
The protest group that helped organize the break-in at the Amsterdam construction site.
AI
Artificial intelligence, computer systems that can do tasks like understanding language or making images.
tenant
A company or person that rents and uses a building or space.

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