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The Guardian — Technology · November 7, 2026 · On the brief until November 21, 2026

Activists break into building site of Microsoft datacentre in Amsterdam

Environmental SciencePublic PolicyUrban Planning
THE AI ANGLE
Driving rapid construction of resource-intensive datacentres

Activists broke into a Microsoft datacentre construction site in Amsterdam during Europe-wide protests against facilities built for artificial intelligence. Protesters demanded moratoria, citing high energy demands, drinking water use, and a lack of public participation in development approvals. Planners and policymakers face growing public resistance even as governments push to expand computing infrastructure.

Summary written by AI Business Lens with an AI model from the article at theguardian.com. It is not the article, and the publisher has not reviewed it. For publishers.

THE TEACHING ANGLE
The situation highlights the conflict between national policies promoting tech infrastructure and local opposition over water use, energy demands, and closed planning decisions.

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