Finland launches criminal probe of suspected environmental damage by Google

What the report says

Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into suspected environmental-law breaches linked to a planned Google data centre in northern Finland, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The probe focuses on construction work near Muhos, where authorities say a local Google subsidiary, Tuike Finland, carried out forest clearing and drainage before the required environmental assessments were finished.

Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen told Reuters that investigators are examining whether the site’s operations violated the Water Act and caused environmental damage. He said a finding against the company could lead to a corporate fine, while declining to say whether any individuals could be targeted. Google said it would cooperate with police and continue to focus on compliance at its sites.

The case comes after Finnish authorities ordered work halted at the site earlier in October. The issue has drawn public criticism in Finland, where concern for nature is strong, and has been fueled by images showing extensive tree-felling. A Finnish Green MP, Oras Tynkkynen, said the company should have understood local legal requirements, though he also argued the debate should not distract from the broader role of Finnish forestry companies in biodiversity loss.

The data centre is part of a larger Google investment announced last month, which the company said would put $15bn into artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, including data centres, grid upgrades and clean-energy projects.