Finnish law enforcement authorities announced on Thursday (October 29) that they have opened a criminal investigation into suspected environmental law violations at the construction site of a planned Google data center in northern Finland. The site is a key component of Alphabet-owned Google’s massive $15 billion artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure plan unveiled last month – an initiative the US tech giant characterised as its single largest investment in Europe, according to news agency Reuters.
Authorities plan to release an update in December, but indicated the full investigation will extend into 2027. On October 6, Finland’s Supervisory Agency (LVV), which is the administrative body responsible for overseeing environmental permits and assessments, ordered Google to immediately suspend all preparatory work that alters the natural environment at the Muhos plot and an additional separate location. Despite covering an area comparable to Germany, Finland is home to fewer than 6 million people and has historically encountered less local pushback against large-scale computing facilities than regions like the United States.
In an official statement, police reported that preliminary findings revealed ambiguities and shortcomings regarding water management and drainage on the Tuike property.
“We’ve partnered closely with the government and communities in Finland on infrastructure for over a decade, and are actively responding to enquiries from LVV and other authorities,” Google’s spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Finland has established itself as one of Europe’s leading hubs for tech infrastructure, thanks to its cold northern climate, low-carbon power grid, and active government backing for AI initiatives.
The police probe follows regulatory intervention earlier in the month.
Google’s broader infrastructure program in the country is planned to encompass data centers, power grid upgrades, and clean energy and battery storage systems designed to handle computing loads for core products, including Gemini, Search, Google Maps and YouTube.
Google subsidiary Tuike Finland initiated forest clearing and land drainage operations near the town of Muhos before completing the mandatory environmental impact assessments required under Finnish law, according to authorities. A Google spokesperson stated that the firm will cooperate fully with law enforcement and will remain focused on upholding compliance across all of its properties.