While local politicians are praising the billions of pounds of investment and the promise of economic revival, residents, trade unions and environmental groups are questioning who will truly benefit. Research reveals growing concerns about energy consumption, land use, a lack of transparency, foreign subcontracting, and mounting pressure on Belgium’s electricity grid.
At the same time, Google is carefully cultivating a green and socially engaged image by investing in renewable energy, nature projects, and local cultural initiatives. However, critics see this as a sophisticated strategy to secure legitimacy for an industry with an increasingly heavy environmental footprint.
Through intimate portraits, field reporting and in-depth investigations, the series explores the contrast between the potential of artificial intelligence and the challenges faced by communities in the vicinity of hyperscale data centres.
