Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into alleged environmental damage at the construction site of a Google data center

Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into preparatory work carried out by Tuike Finland, a Google subsidiary, on the site where the company intends to build an artificial intelligence data center near the town of Muhos. The investigation concerns possible irregularities related to deforestation, drainage, and water management, before the environmental impact assessments are completed.

Authorities have stated that there are preliminary uncertainties and shortcomings regarding the work carried out at the construction site. The investigation will determine the circumstances and any potential responsibility.

On October 6, the Finnish Supervisory Agency ordered the suspension of preparatory measures affecting the environment, both in Muhos and at another location. Google argued that it had begun the work based on its own interpretation of the permits provided for under the legislation.

The project is part of Alphabet’s plan to invest 15 billion dollars in AI infrastructure in Finland, the largest investment announced by the company in Europe. The funds are expected to cover data centers, the expansion of the electricity grid, and clean energy and battery projects, for services such as Gemini, Google Search, Google Maps, and YouTube.