Protesters break into Microsoft data centre site in Amsterdam

The activists, responding to a call for a two-day protest across Europe against data centres, occupied the site in the Sloterdijk district. Demonstrators clashed with police as some climbed a crane and set off flares during the protest.

Protest demands

Nathan Timmer of the protest group Geef Tegengas told local broadcaster AT5 that demonstrators were occupying the site to stop construction. "We don't want it to be built. Nobody needs it," Timmer said. "The only thing this will be used for is AI slop. AI warfare, data surveillance and committing genocide. We don't want that."

Europe-wide action

Dozens of civil society and grassroots groups joined "Stop Dirty Data Centres" events in 15 European countries, including Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. In Germany, a dozen protesters gathered in front of a data centre on the outskirts of Berlin.

"We want to put a stop to this blind construction of data centres around Germany, regardless of any environmental concerns," said protest spokeswoman Caro Weber. "This is really, really dangerous for our future." About 100 people also protested against data centres in front of the Polish parliament.

By late afternoon, police were escorting activists off the Amsterdam construction site, though some remained. Dutch police said they detained 150-200 people suspected of trespassing during the protest. Microsoft stated it was aware of the demonstration and respected peaceful expression but did not condone unlawful actions.