AI's data centre boom is becoming a political problem across the globe

The backlash is not limited to Europe. In the US, Virginia's Loudoun County, home to the largest data centre cluster, has seen residents challenge zoning changes. Chile and Malaysia have also faced community resistance.

Governments are stepping in. Some are requiring energy efficiency standards or mandating that data centres use renewable power. Others are limiting the number of permits.

For investors, the regulatory risk is rising. Companies planning large data centre expansions now face longer timelines and higher costs. The political problem is not going away.