Rho residents protest against new data center developments

More than 600 protesters marched through Rho, Italy, on October 3 to demand an immediate moratorium on the construction of new data centers. Organized by groups including Sos Fornace, Legambiente, and the Osservatorio Data Center, the demonstration highlighted growing local opposition to the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure.

Activists expressed concerns regarding the cumulative environmental and social impacts of these facilities, specifically citing noise, heat dispersion, increased emissions from generators, and the strain on the electrical grid. The protest also questioned whether the significant economic investments justify the actual number of jobs created.

The demonstration included a symbolic raid on the former Nilit-Radici industrial site, where a new facility is planned. Protesters used smoke bombs and masks representing major tech figures to protest the proliferation of these hubs. In the broader Milanese northwest region, activists noted approximately eight data center projects currently undergoing authorization.