Protesters Target Microsoft’s Amsterdam Data Center With Acid Balloons

Europe’s rapid buildout of data centers is facing growing resistance as generative AI drives demand for computing capacity. Critics say the facilities consume large amounts of electricity and cooling water while shifting environmental costs onto local communities. Climate campaign group Extinction Rebellion has cast Microsoft’s Amsterdam project as a symbol of those concerns, reflecting broader scrutiny of the physical infrastructure underpinning the AI boom.

Extinction Rebellion activists recently threw acidic water balloons at the Microsoft data-center construction site in Amsterdam, aiming to accelerate corrosion of exposed reinforcing steel. The action targeted the project’s expected power and water use. The developer said the incident had not delayed construction, but the attack marked an escalation from political and community opposition toward direct disruption of AI infrastructure projects in Europe.