Finnish police probe alleged environmental breaches at Google's Muhos data centre

Finnish police said on Thursday they had launched a criminal investigation into suspected breaches of environmental law at the construction site of a planned Google data centre near Muhos in northern Finland. Authorities said forest clearing and drainage began before required environmental impact assessments were completed. The project is part of a plan announced last month by Alphabet's Google to invest $15 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland.

Investigation focuses on water and drainage

Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen told Reuters that police are investigating whether the company's operations breached the water act and resulted in environmental damage. A guilty finding could lead to a corporate fine, he said, while declining to say whether individuals could become a target. Preliminary information showed ambiguities and shortcomings in drainage and water management at the site of Tuike Finland, a subsidiary of Alphabet's Google, police said in a statement.

Police said they will give an update in December, but the investigation will extend into 2027. On October 6, Finland's Supervisory Agency (LVV), which oversees environmental permits and assessments, ordered Google to halt preparatory measures altering the environment at Muhos and at a separate site. Pakanen said it is up to LVV to decide on any permits to restart work at the data centre sites.

Google responds and regulators weigh next steps

A Google spokesperson said the company would cooperate with the police investigation and continue to focus on maintaining compliance at its sites. The spokesperson said Google has partnered closely with the government and communities in Finland on infrastructure for over a decade and is actively responding to enquiries from LVV and other authorities. An LVV spokesperson said it was unclear how long it might take before the agency grants the relevant permits.

Project sits within Finland's data centre push

Google's planned investments in Finland include data centres, electricity grid improvements and clean energy and battery projects to power services such as Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube. The $15 billion plan was described by the company as its largest investment in Europe. Finland's cool climate, low-carbon electricity and government endorsement of AI projects have contributed to making the country one of Europe's main destinations for data centre investments in recent years.

Finland, similar in size to Germany but with a population of less than 6 million people, has had less vocal opposition to data centre buildouts than other places, including in the United States. AI data centres are among the main drivers of a projected rise of up to 40% in Finland's electricity consumption in the coming years, if all agreed grid connection projects go ahead, according to grid operator Fingrid. Supporting Google's plan, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo last month said the deal would be a boost for the economy, playing down concerns it would suck up energy and push up power prices. The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier coverage: Wolves roam into Finnish villages after Google forest clearings for AI data centers

Sources: Cybernews