GoKawiil
Tech News
Finland's police, backed by the Licensing and Supervision Authority, have launched a criminal investigation into Google subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy after five complaints over its Muhos data center project. The probe covers suspected environmental law violations and environmental damage, including unauthorized clearing of roughly 816 acres of forest, plus alleged shortcomings in drainage and water management.
Oulu Police have launched a preliminary investigation into Google subsidiary Tuike Finland's data centre construction site in Muhos, following a referral from Finland's Supervisory Agency and five separate complaints. The case concerns suspected environmental damage linked to drainage and water-management failures at the site, part of Google's €13 billion Finland investment, and police expect the probe to run through 2027.
Finnish authorities ordered Google affiliate Tuike Finland Oy to halt illegal logging of roughly 1,300 acres of boreal forest near Otanmäki, demanding a report on the clearing. Guardian reporting found that wildlife displaced from the felled land, including wolf packs, has since moved into nearby villages searching for prey, alarming residents.
Google's Finland country manager apologized after the company cleared roughly 816 acres of forest near Muhos without authorization, and Finnish regulators ordered it to stop further clearing near Otanmäki, where about 500 acres had already been cut down. Local residents say wolves and other wildlife have begun entering nearby villages after being displaced from the cleared forest, raising safety concerns alongside complaints about construction noise and streams turning brown.
Finland's Licensing and Supervision Agency ordered Google subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy to stop building two data centers in Muhos and Kajaani pending completion of environmental impact assessments. The agency is investigating claims that more than 740 acres of forest were cleared for the project without proper authorization. Google acknowledged falling short of its own standards and said it is pursuing biodiversity measures including planting trees across 130 hectares at Muhos.
Finnish authorities have demanded Google suspend all preparatory activities for two planned data centers after contractors clear-cut approximately 530 hectares of protected forests without proper permits. The Supervisory Agency (LVV) identified violations including unapproved logging and environmental disruption in Muhos and Kajaani. Google acknowledged the issue and committed to reviewing the findings.
Finland's Licensing and Supervision Agency ordered Google subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy to stop construction work at two planned data center sites until environmental impact assessments are completed. The suspension covers activities including tree removal, excavation, quarrying and road construction. The order comes a month after Google pledged $15 billion for AI infrastructure investment in the country.
Finland's Supervisory Agency (LVV) ordered a suspension of preparatory construction at Google-linked data centre sites in Muhos and Kajaani after finding work proceeded without a required environmental impact assessment. The agency said activities included clearing trees and topsoil, building roads and storage areas, and altering ditches, and has given Tuike Finland until 14 October to explain its next steps, with the suspension due by 23 October. Google acknowledged it had fallen short of its own standards and said it would follow the agency's guidance.
Google's Finnish subsidiary began clearing approximately 300 hectares of forest for a new data center project, despite ongoing environmental reviews. Finnish regulators have questioned the legality of the work, which was reportedly carried out before completing the required assessments, prompting an investigation into whether laws were violated. The company maintains compliance, but environmental groups dispute these claims, citing satellite images showing unapproved clearing.
Google's local operator Tuike Finland allegedly cleared over 300 hectares of forest near Muhos for a new data center without first securing a required environmental impact assessment, according to AFP. The project is part of Google's broader 13-billion-euro data center expansion in Finland, which already includes a facility in Hamina and planned sites in Kajaani and Vaala.
Finnish newspaper Kaleva reports Google cleared more than 300 hectares of forest across four sites in northern Finland for two new data centers while required environmental assessments were still underway. The Finnish Nature Conservation Association says Google's local project company, Tuike Finland Oy, began felling trees months before the reviews concluded, and has asked regulators to halt activity until the assessments finish. Google says the clearing complied with Finland's Forestry Act and that it had already conducted extensive environmental evaluations.
Figure AI retired its F.02 humanoid robot fleet as the newer F.03 fleet scales up, choosing to melt the robots in a 75-ton electric arc furnace at a foundry in Imatra, Finland rather than disassemble them. The company trained the robots in simulation to jump into molten steel using stunt-artist movement data, and Arnold Schwarzenegger took part in the project after suggesting the melting idea online. The robots executed the jumps autonomously during a 24-hour window at the foundry despite extreme heat and electromagnetic interference.