Approximately 100 protesters entered a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam, unfurling banners with messages including "FCK AI" and "Microsoft powers genocide." Some demonstrators scaled a crane to hang the "FCK AI" banner, while others displayed messages referencing "free Palestine" and denouncing Microsoft's support for the Netanyahu regime.
Footage shared online depicted individuals breaching the site's gates and moving through the construction area. The protest's messaging appeared divided between opposition to data center expansion and condemnation of Israeli actions in Palestine.
Amsterdam has previously taken a firm stance on data center development, announcing a moratorium on new projects and expansions beyond 2023, citing concerns over space and energy capacity. The city stated it would not consider new proposals until 2030.
Recent polling in the United States suggests that the widespread construction of data centers has become a significant issue for voters. According to AP surveys, 56 percent of respondents considered the topic a "crucial or major" factor in their midterm election choices, with 76 percent expressing opposition to data centers being built within their local communities.