A group of protesters recently stormed the construction site of a massive Microsoft data center on the outskirts of Amsterdam, marking the second incident in one year where the tech giant’s AI infrastructure site has been attacked. The incident also marked a sharp escalation in European demonstrations against large-scale tech infrastructure. Riot police were deployed to the scene near Sloterdijk, in Amsterdam’s western port area, and made multiple arrests.
The latest security breach follows earlier hostility at the same site, bringing back unwelcome memories for the software giant wherein activists targeted the exact same location with acid-filled balloons.
Police initially blocked the demonstration march, according to Dutch news agency ANP. Previously, the protestors filled water balloons with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, salt and acrylic paint before throwing them at the facility, according to the Register. After Amsterdam’s mayor issued an order banning the gathering, marchers attempted to push past police lines before heading toward the construction grounds, where work is underway on a major three-building complex intended for Microsoft.