Finnish police open a criminal investigation over work at Google's data center site near Muhos
Prepared by Sintelligent with the help of SI. Published in SI: . Updated: .
Google's data center construction in Finland is now being examined not only by the supervisory agency but also by the police.
As Insurance Journal writes, Finnish police have opened an investigation into possible breaches of environmental law at the site of a planned Google data center in the north of the country. The authorities said that Tuike Finland, an Alphabet subsidiary, carried out forest clearing and drainage near the town of Muhos before the environmental impact assessment required by Finnish law was completed. The police said that, according to preliminary information, there were "ambiguities and shortcomings" in drainage and water management at the construction site, and the investigation will examine these circumstances, among others. On October 6, Finland's supervisory agency ordered a halt to preparatory work at this and one other site. Google, per the same report, said it began preparatory work on its understanding of the permits required by law. The project is part of Google's plans to invest $15 billion in Finland's SI infrastructure, which the company calls its largest investment in Europe; per the Anadolu description, the investigation will continue into 2027.
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