European protests against AI data centers spread to 15 countries. Microsoft construction site occupied

More than 100 activists entered a Microsoft data-center construction site near Amsterdam on Friday, climbing cranes and disrupting work during a coordinated protest campaign across 16 countries. By Monday, organizers reported roughly 90 demonstrations in about 15 European countries, including France, Germany, Poland and Spain. Around 2,000 people marched in Zaragoza, where drought concerns have fueled opposition to planned Amazon and Microsoft facilities. Dutch police detained between 150 and 200 protesters near the Microsoft site. Campaigners say the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is putting pressure on electricity, water, land and household energy bills. The protests come while governments are debating faster permits for data centers and other energy projects, with a major US Senate permitting bill now facing opposition over environmental protections and the cost of supplying power to large facilities.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/11/09/protests-against-data-centers-held-across-europe_6775706_19.html

https://apnews.com/article/c6290598e26a7b01622e5c4eec571516