Police probe possible breaches of the Water Act at Muhos construction site linked to Google’s planned $15 billion investment in Finland
Helsinki, October 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: Finnish police have launched a criminal investigation into suspected violations of environmental law at the construction site of a planned Google data centre near the town of Muhos in northern Finland.
According to Finnish authorities, Tuike Finland Oy, a local subsidiary of Alphabet’s Google, carried out forest clearing and drainage works at the site before the environmental impact assessments required under Finnish law had been completed. In a statement, police said preliminary information pointed to “ambiguities and shortcomings” in drainage and water management at the project site, and that the investigation would examine the circumstances surrounding these issues.
Detective Superintendent Kari Pakanen said investigators are examining whether the company’s activities breached Finland’s Water Act and caused environmental damage. He noted that a guilty finding could result in a corporate fine, but declined to say whether any individuals might become targets of the investigation. Police have registered the case as suspected environmental degradation, adding that further criminal classifications may be specified as the inquiry proceeds, which could extend into 2027.
The investigation follows an order issued on 6 October by Finland’s Supervisory Agency (LVV), the authority responsible for environmental permits and assessments, directing Google to halt preparatory work altering the environment at Muhos and at a second planned site at Otanmäki in Kajaani until mandatory environmental impact assessments are completed. Pakanen said any decision on permits allowing work to resume rests with the regulator.
Google’s Finland Country Manager, Antti Järvinen, has previously apologised in local media for the forest clearances, while maintaining that the company believed its actions complied with the law. A Google spokesperson said the company has worked closely with the Finnish government and local communities on infrastructure for more than a decade and is actively responding to enquiries from LVV and other authorities.
The Muhos facility forms part of Google’s plan, announced last month, to invest around $15 billion in Finland in data centres, electricity grid upgrades, and clean energy and battery storage projects supporting services such as Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has backed the investment as a significant boost to the Finnish economy, dismissing concerns that it would strain energy supplies and drive up electricity prices.
Finland has emerged as one of Europe’s leading destinations for data centre investment, owing to its cool climate, access to low-carbon electricity and government support for artificial intelligence infrastructure. However, Google’s large-scale projects have drawn criticism from residents concerned about their environmental impact. No findings of criminal liability have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
