Finnish police launch criminal probe over forest cleared for Google data center

Finnish police opened a criminal investigation Thursday into Google’s work on a planned data center in northern Finland after the company cleared hundreds of acres of forest without completing required environmental reviews.

The investigation adds to mounting scrutiny of Google’s $1.5 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, where the company’s expansion plans have raised concerns over deforestation and rising energy costs.

Authorities are investigating whether Tuike Finland, a Google subsidiary, violated environmental laws while preparing a site near the northern town of Muhos. According to Finnish authorities, the company cleared and drained approximately 815 acres of forest before completing environmental impact assessments.

A spokesperson for Google told Reuters that the company would cooperate with authorities.

“We’ve partnered closely with the government and communities in Finland on infrastructure for over a decade, and are actively responding to enquiries from LVV [Finnish Supervisory Agency] and other authorities,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“We are investigating whether the company’s ​operations have breached the water act and resulted in environmental damage,” Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the company could face a corporate fine if found guilty of the violations.

The probe follows an Oct. 6 order from Finland’s environmental regulator directing Google to suspend work at two planned data center locations, Muhos and Otanmäki, until the necessary environmental requirements are met.

Environmental groups estimate that roughly 400,000 trees have been cut down across the two sites.

Google’s Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, previously apologized for the clearing but said the company had operated based on its understanding of the country’s environmental requirements.

The controversy comes as Finland seeks to establish itself as a major European hub for AI infrastructure. Google announced its $1.5 billion investment last month, with plans to develop data centers and support clean energy projects.