Finland opens criminal inquiry into Google subsidiary's forest clearing for datacentre
Police are investigating whether Tuike Finland broke environmental law by clearing and draining 330 hectares at a planned datacentre site in Muhos before required assessments were done.
At a glance
- Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into possible environmental law breaches at a planned Google datacentre site in Muhos.
- Google subsidiary Tuike Finland is alleged to have cleared and drained 330 hectares of forest before required impact assessments were done.
- Authorities told Google to halt work at Muhos and Otanmäki this month; over 93,000 people have signed a petition for tighter datacentre rules.
Finnish police have launched a criminal investigation into possible breaches of environmental law at the site of a planned Google datacentre in Muhos, in rural northern Finland. Authorities allege that Tuike Finland, a Google subsidiary, cleared and drained 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest at the site before the environmental impact assessments required by Finnish law had been completed.
"Based on preliminary information, there have been ambiguities and shortcomings in the drainage and water management at the construction site of Tuike Finland Oy's datacentre project," police said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the investigation would examine circumstances related to those issues.
Work already halted at two sites
Earlier this month Finnish authorities ordered Google to suspend work at two sites — Muhos and Otanmäki, about 100km to the south-east — after the company failed to complete environmental impact assessments before clearcutting the land. The Supervisory Agency, which oversees environmental permits and assessments, told Google to halt "preparatory measures altering the environment". Campaigners estimate 250,000 trees have been felled at Muhos and 150,000 at Otanmäki.
Google's Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, has apologised for the forest clearings but argued that the company had acted according to "the best understanding we had of the legislation at the time".
Investment push meets national debate
Finland, like other Nordic countries, is attractive to tech companies building datacentres because of its relative geopolitical stability, abundant land and cool climate, which should help cut energy costs. Finnish authorities are considering applications for 145 new datacentres at various stages of planning, including a €13bn (£11bn) artificial intelligence infrastructure project by Google that the US company has called its largest investment in Europe.
The government has encouraged the projects. In September, when Google's plans were announced, prime minister Petteri Orpo said attracting investment was a "top priority" and the deal would "deliver lasting benefits".
The allegations have sparked a national debate over what datacentre deals mean for communities, the environment and energy prices, and the issue could affect parliamentary elections due in April. More than 93,000 people have signed a petition demanding more datacentre regulation and compensation for environmental damage. Experts say datacentres bring a limited number of local jobs and minimal benefits nationally.
"Really, for Finland, there are no benefits," said Jussi Kangasharju, professor of computer science at the University of Helsinki. "They are international companies serving international customers. Datacentres ultimately have little benefit for others except the datacentre operator."
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Why is Finland investigating Google?
- Police are examining possible breaches of environmental law by Google subsidiary Tuike Finland, which is alleged to have cleared and drained 330 hectares of forest at Muhos before legally required impact assessments were completed.
- What has Google said about the forest clearing?
- Google's Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, apologised for the clearings but said the company had acted according to "the best understanding we had of the legislation at the time".
- How many datacentres is Finland considering?
- Finnish authorities are considering applications for 145 new datacentres at various stages of planning, including Google's €13bn AI infrastructure project, which the company calls its largest investment in Europe.
