Finnish police investigate suspected environmental violations at Google data center site
Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into work at Google's planned data center in Muhos, northern Finland, where its subsidiary is suspected of clearing forest and digging drainage systems before a required environmental review was complete. The project is part of Alphabet's roughly $15 billion commitment to AI infrastructure in Finland.
Forest clearing and water management under scrutiny
Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen told Reuters that investigators are examining whether Tuike Finland, Google's subsidiary, breached water legislation and caused environmental damage. A finding of guilt could result in a corporate fine.
Finnish authorities say Tuike removed about 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest in Muhos and nearly 200 hectares at a second planned site in Kajaani before completing the mandatory environmental impact assessments, ABC News reported. Under Finnish law, permanent forest removal covering more than 200 hectares in one continuous area requires an assessment, according to Helsinki Times. The Muhos clearing exceeded that threshold.
Environmental groups put the number of trees felled across the Muhos and Otanmäki sites at roughly 400,000, The Hill reported.
Early investigative work has raised questions and identified deficiencies in the site's drainage and water management. The Oulu Police Department has received five requests to investigate the Muhos works and is addressing them in a single preliminary probe, according to Yle. Police expect to issue an update in December, though the investigation may extend into 2027.
Work suspended pending regulatory decisions
On October 6, Finland's Environmental Supervisory Authority, known as LVV, directed Google to halt preparatory work that would alter the landscape at Muhos and a second site. Tuike confirmed on October 14, 2026, that it had stopped preparatory activities at both Muhos and Kajaani-Otanmäki in compliance with the order, Yle reported.
Whether the data center project can proceed now rests entirely on LVV's permit decision. A Google spokesperson said the company would work with both police and LVV and ensure its activities meet local regulatory requirements.
LVV has also set a November 5, 2026, deadline for Tuike to provide a detailed water management plan, according to Yle. It must specify the proposed structures, implementation schedule and independent water monitoring arrangements. The plan must also address heavy rain, snowmelt and the risks posed by acidic black shale soils in the area.
The agency said inadequate action could lead to formal enforcement measures, including a conditional fine.
A four-location investment program
Google plans to spend at least €13 billion, or about $15 billion, in Finland during 2027 and 2028, BBC News reported. The program covers new data centers in Muhos, Kajaani and Vaala, along with investment in its existing Hamina facility.
The company estimates that construction during those two years would support more than 37,000 jobs and add an average of €3.6 billion annually to Finland's economy.
The expansion also includes a 22-year agreement to purchase power from Finnish energy company Fortum, covering up to half of the Loviisa nuclear power plant's capacity. Fortum said the agreement would help sustain the plant's operation through 2050.
Political support and calls for tighter rules
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo maintained his support for Google's investment during a parliamentary session in late October 2026, ABC News reported. He nevertheless said the company needed to learn from the incident and comply with the law.
More than 98,000 people have signed a petition calling for stricter regulation of data centers in Finland, according to ABC News.