Google told to stop forest clearing for two data centres in Finland weeks after announcing its biggest European investment

Finland’s licensing and supervision agency has told Google to halt work at two planned data centre sites until environmental impact assessments are completed. The order is a setback for the tech giant in a country increasingly called the “Texas of Europe” for the data centre investment it attracts.

The Finnish Licensing and Supervision Agency (LVV) issued the notice on Tuesday to Tuike Finland Oy, Google’s local subsidiary, according to a TOI report that cited CNBC. It covers projects planned in Muhos and Kajaani. LVV said the company must stop the specified work immediately and no later than October 23.