Environmental and community campaigners have called for coordinated protests across Europe on Friday and Saturday, demanding an immediate halt to the construction of large data centres amid growing concerns over their environmental, economic and social impact.
The campaign, operating under the banner “Stop Dirty Data Centres,” is urging communities to mobilise against the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and pressure governments to introduce restrictions on new developments.
“Local communities are rising up to stop dirty data centers where they live. We will unite and exercise our democratic rights to speak out, assemble, and protest to hold elected officials to account,” the campaign said on its website.
Organisers are demanding an immediate moratorium on large data centres throughout Europe, arguing that their unchecked expansion is placing increasing pressure on communities and natural resources.
“The explosion of AI data centers across our towns and cities is taking a toll that we can no longer afford,” the group warned.
Campaigners raised concerns about the effects of data centre construction on local employment, economic conditions, electricity consumption and water availability, particularly as Europe faces growing climate-related challenges.
They also highlighted potential consequences including housing shortages, rising energy bills, environmentally harmful supply chains, increased surveillance and threats to personal privacy.
The campaign further accused major technology companies of accumulating excessive influence over democratic decision-making.
“By coordinating our actions, we demonstrate the power we have to halt the unchecked expansion of AI data centers and prevent our democracy from being taken hostage by big tech industry interests,” organisers stated.
The group is calling on political leaders at local, national and European levels to suspend new data centre construction until communities can democratically determine how such infrastructure should be developed and regulated.
According to the campaign, future decisions should ensure that AI infrastructure benefits the public and the environment rather than primarily serving private commercial interests.
Demonstrations are planned across several European countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Finland.
The coordinated mobilisation reflects mounting opposition among campaigners to the environmental footprint and social consequences of Europe’s expanding AI infrastructure.