Leitmotiv and PILP are seeking to accelerate local datacentre activism, taking confrontations with hyperscale datacentres in the major digital infrastructure market of the Netherlands as a starting point. They want to identify the most compelling legal arguments to halt hyperscale data centre development to create space for democratic deliberation around digital infrastructure development and its impacts on climate change, environmental pollution, energy security, and Big Tech power. The research also considers the major costs and benefits of hyperscale datacentre development for local communities.
Negative impacts of hyperscale data centre development in the Netherlands
Organisation Name
Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP) and Leitmotiv
Country/Jurisdiction
Netherlands
Amount Granted
EUR 41,000
Current Status
Ongoing
Image credit: Leitmotiv
Grant type
Pre-litigation Research Support
Description
Leitmotiv and PILP are seeking to accelerate local datacentre activism, taking confrontations with hyperscale datacentres in the major digital infrastructure market of the Netherlands as a starting point. They want to identify the most compelling legal arguments to halt hyperscale data centre development to create space for democratic deliberation around digital infrastructure development and its impacts on climate change, environmental pollution, energy security, and Big Tech power. The research also considers the major costs and benefits of hyperscale datacentre development for local communities.
"They want to...create space for democratic deliberation around digital infrastructure development and its impacts on climate change, environmental pollution, energy security, and Big Tech power..."
Strategic Goal
To force politicians and policymakers to re-assess existing policies or permits to curb hyperscale data centre sprawl and its negative effects, and give greater consideration to the interests of local residents, environmental protection and democratic principles in the balance of interests, rather than allowing economic considerations to predominate the debate.