- A Chilean court rules Google must revise application for $200 million data center due to environmental impact concerns
- Big Tech like Microsoft and Meta increase water usage for cooling data centers
- Activists criticize authorities for disregarding Indigenous rights in environmental projects
Chilean court rules Google must revise application for $200 million data center due to environmental impact concerns, while Big Tech like Microsoft and Meta increase water usage for cooling data centers. Activists criticize authorities for disregarding Indigenous rights in environmental projects, with Google facing protests in Uruguay over 'data colonialism' accusations.
What to know: A Chilean Court has ruled that Google must revise its application for a $200 million data center in Santiago to address climate change impacts. The initial plan faced opposition due to concerns about exacerbating the Chilean drought by using local water supplies to cool servers. Despite Google's promise to switch to an air cooling system, the court found the environmental assessment insufficient. This decision highlights the growing importance of environmental considerations in tech infrastructure development.
Looking ahead: Major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have significantly increased their water usage to cool data centers, particularly with the rise of AI models. Google's water usage rose by 22% over two years, and Microsoft's by 34% according to 2022 figures. The environmental impact of AI models is a growing concern, with the process of generating responses equivalent to consuming water. This trend underscores the need for sustainable practices in the tech industry to mitigate environmental consequences.
Deeper details: Environmental groups have criticized Chile's environmental regulation, citing concerns about projects like the Cerrillo data center exploiting Indigenous resources. More than a third of environmental complaints in Chile relate to projects affecting Indigenous territories. The lack of oversight in regulatory institutions, established relatively recently, has raised questions about their ability to protect Indigenous rights and the environment. This highlights the importance of incorporating Indigenous perspectives in environmental decision-making processes.
The backstory: In Uruguay, protests have erupted against Google's plans to build a data center in Montevideo, with locals accusing the tech giant of data colonialism. Critics argue that Google is taking advantage of cheap resources and lenient environmental standards, without providing significant economic benefits to the local community. The short lifespan of data centers, typically between 5 to 20 years, raises questions about the long-term sustainability and impact of such projects. This situation reflects a broader global conversation on the ethical implications of tech industry expansion into new regions.
