The Oulu Police Department has opened a preliminary investigation into activities at Google's data centre construction site in Muhos, following a request from the Finnish Supervisory Agency. The agency ordered work at the site to be suspended on 8 October 2026, a day after construction began on 7 October 2026. The investigation, being conducted under the criminal heading of suspected environmental damage, will address five separate requests for investigation related to the Muhos site. Police noted that, based on current information, there have been irregularities and shortcomings in drainage and water management at the worksite, which is run by Google's local subsidiary Tuike Finland. The preliminary investigation is expected to take a good deal of time, with efforts aimed at completing the probe during 2027. The department said it will aim to provide more information about the matter in December.
The Finnish Supervisory Agency explained in a press release that it ordered Tuike Finland to halt construction work on two data centre projects — in Muhos and Kajaani-Otanmäki — because required environmental impact assessments for both projects remained incomplete. The company complied, confirming on 14 October that preparatory work had been suspended at both sites. Among other issues, the authority found Tuike Finland's water management plans insufficient to prove that water-related environmental impacts can be properly controlled.
The authority noted that Tuike Finland needs to submit a detailed water management plan by 5 November, including planned structures, timelines and independent water monitoring, accounting for heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and risks from acidic black shale soils in the area. The authority added that if adequate action is not taken, it may pursue formal enforcement measures, including a conditional fine.
The data centre construction work is part of Google's 13 billion euro investment in Finland.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing