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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 13 sources tracked

The island where locals say data centres are taking their water

Residents on an island, reportedly Batam, are expressing concerns that data centres are taking their water. The issue has led to blockades and protests. Data centre firms are pushing for clearer approvals. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing technological growth with local resource management.

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  • ✓ Data centres require significant amounts of water for cooling
  • ✓ Residents in Batam have blockaded a data centre over water concerns
  • ✓ Data centre firms are pushing for clearer, coordinated approvals
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 13 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Recent reports indicate that residents in Batam have blockaded a data centre over concerns about water drainage, highlighting escalating tensions.

Live updates

  1. Locals claim data centres are draining their water on an island

    Residents on an island, reportedly Batam, are expressing concerns that data centres are taking their water. The issue has led to blockades and protests. Data centre firms are pushing for clearer approvals. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing technological growth with local resource management.

    Why it matters

    The dispute over water usage by data centres on the island underscores the tension between the growth of the digital economy and environmental sustainability. As demand for data storage and processing increases, so does the need for data centres, which require significant amounts of water for cooling. Local communities are pushing back against what they see as an unsustainable drain on their resources.

    What is confirmed

    • Data centres require significant amounts of water for cooling
    • Residents in Batam have blockaded a data centre over water concerns
    • Data centre firms are pushing for clearer, coordinated approvals

    Still unconfirmed

    • The island is facing severe water shortages due to data centres

    What to watch next

    • Further protests or blockades in Batam or other locations
    • Government responses or regulations on data centre water usage
    • Updates on data centre firms' plans for Batam and other islands
    Sources used for this update (13)
    1. www.bbc.com — BBC Home - Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business...
    2. BBC — The island where locals say data centres are taking their water
    3. Asia News Network — Indonesia’s data hubs’ troubled waters: The Jakarta Post
    4. openPR.com — Explore Indonesia Data Center Market Growth and Investment Opportunities
    5. The Jakarta Post — Data center firms push for clearer, coordinated approvals
    6. Startup Fortune — Batam Residents Blockade Data Center Over Data Centers Draining Their Water
    7. elderofziyon.blogspot.com — 10/12 Links Pt2: Brendan O'Neill: The bourgeois war of annihilation against Israel; Andrew Roberts: Why t....
    8. www.timeout.com — 26 Best Things To Do In Adelaide | 2026 Guide
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    11. newrepublic.com — Minnesotans: Trump’s Raid on Ilhan Omar Will Backfire Big-Time
    12. economictimes.indiatimes.com — Big Tech wants to build more AI data centres across America. Why local communities are pushing back against the costs of the AI revolution
    confidence 90%
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