[Financial News] Immediately after the U.S. midterm elections ended, a backlash against the data centers rapidly proliferating amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom began spreading across Europe.
On the 5th (local time), Euronews reported that a coalition of around 100 civic and environmental groups in 15 European countries had launched coordinated action calling for an immediate halt (moratorium) to construction of large new data centers until clear regulatory standards are put in place.
The coalition Stop Dirty Data Centres will hold a range of protests on the 6th and 7th in Ireland, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Finland and elsewhere, including demonstrations, street marches, petition drives and public discussions.
The joint action was prompted by mounting concerns about the negative effects of the rapid expansion of data centers on local communities, public infrastructure, land, water and electricity use, living conditions, jobs and prices.
A representative of Stop Dirty Data Centres stressed, “Residents across Europe who have opposed data centers being unilaterally built in their communities and consuming their electricity, water and land have now stepped directly onto the political stage.”
The collective backlash across Europe was influenced, directly or indirectly, by the results of the U.S. midterm elections. During the campaign, local environmental pollution and resource conflicts stemming from data center construction emerged as key issues. The Democrats won control of Congress after pledging a temporary halt to construction of large AI data centers and curbs on Big Tech. Republicans, by contrast, championed aggressive data center expansion, leaving it to Big Tech’s discretion—a stark contrast.
Residents in Europe, as in the United States, are seriously concerned about rising electricity bills caused by data center operations and water shortages amid drought. Nearby residents say their living environment is being disrupted by air pollution from backup generators, noise from construction vehicles, the visual impact of large buildings and noise from drones around the clock.
An Espli coordinator said, “Individual movements that have fought against the immense power of Big Tech, which is colluding with politicians, have come together as one,” adding, “A moratorium on construction of large-scale data centers should be declared immediately at the European Union (EU) level as well as by national and local governments, and the impact of data centers on society and the environment should be comprehensively assessed.”
Meanwhile, Europe has accelerated data center construction to avoid falling behind the United States and China in the race for AI technological leadership. According to PwC’s report “Global Data Center Outlook 2026–50,” annual investment in data centers in Europe has more than doubled, rising from €12 billion in 2020 to around €25 billion–€26 billion this year. A total of €176 billion (about 260 trillion won) is expected to be invested from 2026 through 2031.
[email protected] Yoon Jae-joon Reporter
