Finland has faced calls for stricter rules for data centers after Google cleared about 250,000 trees near Muhos and another 150,000 near Otanmäki in central Finland, according to an ecologist cited in the coverage. The Finnish regulator halted the work this month because the necessary environmental impact assessments had not been completed before construction began. Google apologized, while national director Antti Järvinen said the company had acted according to its understanding of the legislation at the time.

More than 93,000 people have signed a petition seeking tighter rules and compensation for affected communities. Residents have called for Google to help restore the local salmon population and have raised concerns about changes to nature after the trees were removed. Finland has 145 data centers planned, and Google announced last month that it would invest €13 billion in new AI data centers and digital infrastructure in the country.