How Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide data centres’ environmental toll
Summary
Investigate Europe uncovers how Microsoft and DigitalEurope influenced EU law to hide data centres' environmental footprints by inserting a secrecy provision. The piece argues the confidentiality clause may breach EU transparency rules and the Aarhus Convention, resulting in mostly aggregated public data while site-level impacts stay secret. It highlights ongoing investments and regulatory efforts, plus expert and NGO concerns about accountability and public access.