28 August 2026
India's data center expansion raises concerns about community displacement
First reported
Rest of World ran this on , a day before the next source picked it up.
- Tech companies building data centers in India are acquiring land without consulting affected communities, according to digital rights advocate Osama Manzar.
- Data centers planned for India will require water equivalent to 1.3 billion people's annual domestic needs and electricity for 650 million people by 2030.
- Local employment promises from data center projects are questionable since the facilities operate with minimal staff and automation, Manzar argues.
- Disputes over land ownership have emerged in some areas, particularly in Telangana where Microsoft is building a data center hub.
How it was covered
The AlgorithmMIT Technology Review
India's data center boom fueled by Big Tech is sidelining local communities and leaving displaced people with nothing. Policymakers are prioritizing technology companies over local interests.
Reported by Rest of World