Finnish Police Open Criminal Case Against Google Over Data Center Violations

Police in northern Finland have opened a criminal investigation into a Google subsidiary after workers cleared forest and installed drainage systems at a data center site without completing required environmental reviews. The probe focuses on the town of Muhos, where construction began as part of a 15 billion dollar investment announced in September. This deal represents the largest financial commitment by Google to European infrastructure.

The investigation was launched after local authorities observed that Tuike Finland, a local entity owned by Google, had modified the land before legal approvals were finalized. Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen confirmed the police are checking if these actions violated the Water Act. He stated that a finding of guilt could result in a corporate fine. Pakanen did not clarify if specific individuals would face charges, though a Google spokesperson said the company is cooperating fully with the inquiry.

The site work has drawn sharp criticism from residents and politicians who view the local forest with high regard. Videos showing the scale of tree felling circulated online in the days after the news broke. Oras Tynkkynen, a member of parliament for the Green Party, described the situation as unforgivable. He argued that a company valued as the third largest in the world should know the laws of the country where it operates. Tynkkynen noted that such large corporations can easily hire top legal experts to ensure compliance.

Finnish regulators ordered Google to halt operations at the Muhos site in early October. Recent police reports point to specific failures in how the site managed water and drainage. While Tynkkynen said the anger toward Google is justified, he also warned that public focus on the tech giant might distract from legacy forestry companies. He identified those traditional firms as the primary drivers of biodiversity loss in Finland.

The project sits within a larger national strategy to position Finland as a hub for artificial intelligence. The country’s cool climate and low carbon electricity grid have attracted major investors seeking to build data centers. Finland’s population of fewer than six million people is similar in size to Germany’s, yet the nation has seen less local opposition to these builds compared to the United States. Grid operator Fingrid projects that electricity consumption in Finland could rise by up to 40 percent in coming years if all planned grid connections are realized.

Google’s investment package includes data centers, grid upgrades, and battery storage projects. These facilities are intended to power services such as Gemini, Search, Maps, and YouTube. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo supported the deal in September, framing it as a major economic boost. He downplayed concerns that the new infrastructure would strain the power grid or increase electricity prices for consumers.