Google data center project investigated after clearing Finnish forest

The Next Interrupt briefing

AI-generated · Updated · Oct 13, 2026 · How we work

Google faces regulatory scrutiny in Finland after clearing large swaths of forest for a new data center before completing mandatory environmental reviews. [1][2]

What changed

Regulators are examining the forest clearance, which spans over 300 hectares, and the associated construction work could potentially be suspended. [1][2]

Across the publications

PublicationOrder2 publications

TechSpot

[1] TechSpotPublisher coverage

Oct 5, 12:52 PM CT

Google cleared 300 hectares of Finnish forest for a data center, and regulators want answers

Google was apparently so eager to build its new data center infrastructure in Finland that it began bulldozing large swaths of forest before the required environmental review of the full plan was complete. The work could now be suspended, just as other major data center projects are being delayed in...

Excerpt · TechSpot

Read at TechSpot

Tom’s Hardware · Google

[2] Tom’s HardwarePublisher coverage

Oct 5, 7:15 AM CT

Google AI data center project investigated after 420 football fields of Finnish forest demolished

Google’s latest data center construction project in Finland is being investigated after the company representing the search giant reportedly cleared over 300 hectares of forest before obtaining a mandatory environmental impact assessment.

Excerpt · Tom’s Hardware

Read at Tom’s Hardware