Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation into suspected environmental law breaches at the construction site of a planned Google data centre in northern Finland. The company at the centre of the probe is Tuike Finland Oy, a subsidiary of Alphabet's Google.

The Oulu Police Department, known in Finnish as Oulun poliisilaitos, announced the investigation on Thursday, Oct. 29. Authorities flagged potential shortcomings in drainage and water management at the site, which is located in Muhos, a municipality in northern Finland. The case was prompted by multiple complaints.

According to the authorities, Tuike Finland carried out forest clearing and drainage work at the location. Approximately 330 hectares of forest were cleared at Muhos before environmental impact assessments had been finalised. That area exceeds the threshold that triggers an environmental impact assessment requirement under Finnish law, a process designed to evaluate the environmental effects of major land-use projects before they move forward.

Google has said it believed the required approvals were in place. The investigation is expected to reach a conclusion by 2027.

A €13 Billion Commitment Under Scrutiny

In September 2026, Google announced plans to invest €13 billion ($15 billion) in artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, a commitment the US company described as its largest single one in Europe. The plan covers new data centres in Muhos, Kajaani and Vaala, as well as an expansion of Google's existing operations in Hamina. It also includes a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum for nuclear power.

The project ran into difficulty within weeks. On Oct. 6, regulators ordered major preparatory works at the Muhos and Kajaani sites to stop, citing concerns that the necessary environmental assessments were not yet in place. The company was given a compliance deadline of Oct. 23.

In mid-October, Google Finland's country manager, Antti Järvinen, issued a public apology. He said the company understood the compliance expectations and would immediately follow the order to halt work, while indicating that Google had believed the work was lawful.

The Policy Backdrop

Finland is not hostile to data centres. The government has expressed support for data centre buildouts, and authorities have signalled continued backing for the sector even as this case unfolds.

Google's own history in the country is consistent with that stance. The company already operates in Hamina, and its new commitment expands its footprint across several municipalities.

Stakes for Google and the Wider Buildout

The most immediate issue for Google is timing. Major preparatory works at two of its planned Finnish sites, Muhos and Kajaani, have already been halted, and a criminal investigation expected to run into 2027 adds another layer of uncertainty to the schedule.

A criminal probe also raises the stakes beyond a regulatory order. Police investigations can lead to charges, and even without charges, the process invites ongoing scrutiny of how the company handled its site preparation.

The scale of the commitment presents a different kind of context: a €13 billion investment program paired with a 22-year nuclear power agreement, in a country whose government has said it wants these facilities built. What remains unresolved is procedural: the outcome of the criminal probe, expected by 2027, and the status of the halted preparatory works at Muhos and Kajaani.