Finnish police open criminal probe into Google data center site

Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into suspected environmental law violations at the site of Google's data center under construction in Muhos, northern Finland, according to aitimes.com. The investigation targets Google's local subsidiary, Tuike Finland.

Police are examining whether logging and drainage work carried out before the environmental impact assessment was completed violated water protection laws. Detective Chief Inspector Kari Pakkanen said officers are investigating whether the company's work breached the water protection act and caused environmental damage, and that a corporation could be fined if found guilty.

Finland's supervisory authority, LVV, ordered the company on the 6th to halt preparatory work that alters the environment. About 330 hectares of forest were cleared in Muhos and about 200 hectares in Otanmäki; environmental groups estimate roughly 400,000 trees were felled across the two areas.

Police have received five investigation requests related to the Muhos site and will publish further details in December, with the investigation expected to continue into 2027. The authority has also required a more detailed water management plan to be submitted by November 5. Google said it will cooperate with the investigation.

Earlier investment and local concerns

In September 2026, Google announced a $15 billion investment in data centers, power grids, clean energy and battery facilities in Finland, describing it as its largest investment plan in Europe. Google Finland head Antti Järvinen previously apologized for the logging issue and said the work was judged to have been carried out lawfully under the forest act.