6, 2026. (AP Photo) In this image made from video, protesters climb a crane at a site where a new Microsoft data center is being built, in Amsterdam, Friday, Nov.
In Amsterdam on Friday, more than 100 activists gathered at the construction site of a Microsoft AI data centre, marching arm in arm before breaking into the site, climbing cranes, hanging balloons and dancing while police stood by.
Activist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the “Stop Dirty Data Centres” coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction. Some carried placards with messages reading: “Screw your datacentre”. Responding to protests, Microsoft said that it understood that people had strong feelings about the project and respected their right to express them peacefully but did not condone any unlawful actions. “We respectfully ask those on site to leave safely and engage with us in dialogue about the development and any concerns they may have,” it said. Other planned actions include a march in Dublin, a protest outside the parliament building in Warsaw, and a demonstration against a different Microsoft data centre in Denmark. […] Stop Dirty Data Centers says it is not anti-progress or calling for existing data centers to be closed but that major construction should be halted until governments establish clearer rules.
Microsoft data centre in Amsterdam faced breach from angry protestors in Amsterdam as they broke into the construction site. Some carried placards with messages reading: “Screw your datacenter.