Finland's supervisory authority has told Google's subsidiary to stop preparatory work at two planned data centres in Muhos and Kajaani. The background is the suspicion that forest was cleared before the required environmental impact assessments were finished.
What happened
The Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) told Tuike Finland Oy to stop environmentally significant preparatory work at the two sites immediately, and by 23 October at the latest. The notices are dated 6 October 2026; Google had to say by 14 October whether it would comply. Tree felling, excavation and road construction are barred. Planning, measurements and soil surveys may continue. The authority can follow up with enforcement measures, including a conditional fine.
Before the stop, trees had been felled, topsoil removed, access roads and storage facilities built and drainage ditches altered. Reports give about 330 hectares of forest at Muhos and just under 200 hectares at Kajaani; earlier reports spoke of more than 300 hectares in total. The exact figure is not settled.
Context
Google says it acted in good faith under the Forestry Act, and at the same time admits it fell short of its own high standards; Google Finland's country director Antti Järvinen has apologised. The sites belong to a planned investment of at least €13 billion in digital infrastructure in Finland in 2027 and 2028. The member of the Finnish government responsible for the environment is reported to have said that the projects will likely be delayed. The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, through its chair, demanded that construction be suspended until it is clear whether the project complies with the law.
Whether Google meets the deadline of 23 October is not stated in the reports evaluated (7 to 15 October).
Frequently asked questions
Why was the work stopped?
The authority is examining whether forest was cleared before the required environmental impact assessments were finished. The work is to rest until they are complete.
How much forest was cleared?
Reports give about 330 hectares at Muhos and just under 200 hectares at Kajaani; earlier reports spoke of more than 300 hectares in total. The exact figure is not settled.
What does Google say?
Google says it acted in good faith under the Forestry Act, but admits it fell short of its own standards. Google Finland's country director, Antti Järvinen, has apologised.
