The Finnish government has encouraged the projects. In September, when Google’s plans were announced, the prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said attracting investment was a “top priority” and the deal would “deliver lasting benefits”.

For who, Petteri? Lasting benefits for who? This fucking mitten of a man makes my blood boil each time I see his fucking face or read his fucking name, usually accompanied by some fuckass take like here. It even says in the same article:

“Really, for Finland, there are no benefits,” said Jussi Kangasharju, professor of computer science at University of Helsinki. “They are international companies serving international customers. Datacentres ultimately have little benefit for others except the datacentre operator.”

In reality the government is showing the same refusal to both accurately disclose or communicate the amount their decisions will affect the working masses or engage in direct communication and dialogue with them as always. Social services are breaking down due to aggressive privatization and austerity measures imposed upon them if favor of NATO. Voting doesn’t matter, changing only the amount of lip service the government offers to improving social aspects. Legislative changes via a popular online voting system has seen some changes done, but in the end I feel like the parliament doesn’t need to agree on any changes and that’s that. (edit: funnily enough a recent change in legislature regarding the right to strike, especially limiting those labeled “political” by the state if they explicitly target political decision-making, was apparently picked up here)

I’m not a forestry expert, but afaik the woods they cut were at least partially planted woods, used to make profits for the bourgs. There is very little old growth woods left here, as they’ve been cut away to plant these profit-making woods. So the only reason anyone is capable of making any kind of noise about this, is because Google stole basically another bourg’s wood futures, and that bourg (or multiple, Stora Enso and Metsä Group have both already bought some of these trees from smaller suppliers as to shirk responsibility, as processing this lumber seems to be on hold until the law is clear) wants to be paid their due. The added benefit of this whole debaucle is that the government can again pretend to be listening the wishes of the people.

Fuck the bourgeoisie.

I wish I could degoogle. Android phones are the cheapest options though, and yet they are quite expensive around here thanks to American government’s democracy-mongering and blatant hatred of oil.

Well I’m sure Finland is going to do something very drastic that will make Google regret this. Aaaany second now.

The Fin could just not let them build 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

The real environmentalism starts with executing the higher ups of the big corpos and confiscating their properties.

100% agree. ditch google. AdBlock the fick out of YouTube, use duck duck or something else to search and avoid them

There’s a follow up on this from 29 Oct 2026 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/29/finland-criminal-investigation-google-clearing-forest-datacentre