Big Tech Lobbying and Environmental Data Secrecy in the EU (thejournal.ie)

• Tech industry influenced EU disclosure mandates.
• Data centers' environmental footprint remains opaque.
• Policy gaps threaten EU green governance.

"Major tech corporations have successfully influenced EU legislative processes to secure exemptions regarding environmental disclosures for data centers. By embedding confidentiality clauses into regulatory frameworks, these firms have effectively hidden metrics on water consumption and energy efficiency. This development complicates the EU's ability to enforce green standards and monitor the resource intensity of its critical digital infrastructure, challenging the bloc's capacity for evidence-based digital policy and climate governance."