Google illegally felled about 250,000 trees in Finland for an AI data center, Guardian reports
A Guardian investigation says Google cleared roughly 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest near Muhos in northern Finland, an estimated 250,000 trees, for a data center that is part of its €13bn AI infrastructure push in the country, without first completing the required environmental impact assessment. The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation estimates another 150,000 trees were felled at a second site in Otanmäki, near Kajaani. Finland's Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) ordered Google's subsidiary Tuike Finland earlier this month to suspend land-altering work at both sites by Oct. 23 until the assessments are done. Google's Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, has apologized, saying the company acted on its best understanding of the law at the time.
Source: The Guardian