'We used acid to sabotage Microsoft hyperscale data centre construction'
techwerkers.nl
July 16, 2026
3 min read
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Summary
On July 16, members of Extinction Rebellion targeted a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam. They attempted to weaken the concrete foundations by applying a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, salt, and acrylic.
Key Takeaways
- Activists from Extinction Rebellion targeted a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam, using a chemical mixture to weaken the concrete foundations.
- A single Microsoft data center in Middenmeer accounts for 1% of all electricity use in the Netherlands.
- There is growing public concern in the Netherlands regarding the ecological and social impacts of large data centers, particularly related to water shortages and energy consumption.
- The global movement against energy-intensive hyperscale data centers is gaining momentum, with local opposition disrupting numerous projects in the United States.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- Activists may be raising awareness about the environmental impact of data centers, which could lead to more scrutiny on future projects, shifting the landscape for AI infrastructure.
- The public's increasing support for climate activism could signal a growing demand for sustainable practices in AI development and data center operations.
Concerns
- Sabotaging a single data center construction is seen as a futile act that ultimately doesn't address the larger issue of carbon emissions from AI-related infrastructure.
- Critics argue that actions like these could backfire, leading to more emissions when the concrete is redone, which contradicts the activists' goals.
- The general perception is that such sabotage might actually hinder progress toward sustainable practices in AI, rather than help it.