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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · 18h

Great write up of our report in Computer Weekly. We'll continue to urge gov to properly scrutinise data centre developers’ environmental claims. @foxglovelegal.bsky.social @globalactionplan.bsky.social

www.computerweekly.com/news/3666322...

(full report here www.foxglove.org.uk/wp-content/u...)

Government urged to scrutinise datacentre developers’ environmental claims | Computer Weekly

A new report by environmental non-profit Foxglove suggests the government's pro-datacentre agenda could be set to derail the UK's decarbonisation efforts

www.computerweekly.com

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · 3d

Read the report in full here

www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/10/05/r...

Report: 10 new data centres would wipe out annual carbon savings from electric cars - Foxglove

Just ten of the new, large-scale data centres being built in the UK would lead to annual carbon emissions equivalent …

www.foxglove.org.uk

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · 3d

As @dncampbell.bsky.social says “If you pile in all this extra demand, is the grid really going to be decarbonised as far as we’d want it? Or will we be forced into what’s happening in the US, where they’re extending the life of coal and gas?”

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · 3d

Our research out today and covered in the Observer 👇 shows emissions from just 10 of the hundreds of UK data centres in the works could wipe out carbon emissions saved by switching to electric cars in 2025! @globalactionplan.bsky.social @foxglovelegal.bsky.social

observer.co.uk/news/busines...

Ten UK data centres could cancel EV emissions gain

Research has underlined the lack of transparent and reliable figures for expected emissions driven by data centre growth

observer.co.uk

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · 5d

www.crowdjustice.com/case/datacen...

We @foxglovelegal.bsky.social and @globalactionplan.bsky.social are just £500 away from our fundraising target. Please share and donate if you can to help us get there!

Stop the Government forcing through Destructive Data Centres

Foxglove is a non-profit which exists to make technology fair for everyone. They are co-claimant in the case. Global Action Plan is an environmental charity which works to improve the health of peopl

www.crowdjustice.com

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Foxglove Legal @foxglovelegal.bsky.social · 8d

Foxglove's @marthadark.bsky.social was at the UK's Labour party conference this week to warn about the environmental costs of Big Tech's data centres:

Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · 9d

There is a real knowledge gap around the energy and water consumption of data centres, says Martha Dark from @foxglovelegal.bsky.social, and there need to be better mechanisms for holding developers to their commitments - how do we build this infrastructure without letting climate targets slip?

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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · 9d

Kicking off our second panel of the day #Lab25, in partnership with @globalactionplan.bsky.social, with a discussion about whether our energy and water systems are ready for the AI Data Centre Boom.

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · 9d

There is a real knowledge gap around the energy and water consumption of data centres, says Martha Dark from @foxglovelegal.bsky.social, and there need to be better mechanisms for holding developers to their commitments - how do we build this infrastructure without letting climate targets slip?

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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · 12d

- @marthadark.bsky.social, Foxglove Legal
- @shanikamahendr1.bsky.social, Milton Keynes Councillor
- @sophiaadamsbhatti.bsky.social, AI Expert (Chair)

🔗 Event Page: luma.com/5v40y8tj

Feeding the Beast: Are Our Energy and Water Systems Ready for the AI data centre boom? · Luma

This event is open to all Conference attendees. An RSVP is not required to gain access. This panel explores the energy and water demands of AI-driven data…

luma.com

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 12d

What do you do when your media org is captured? You start your own.

Introducing....The Nerve!!! @thenerve-news.bsky.social

We're all-female, journalist-owned & launching next week.

Please help us build a truly independent, progressive new media!👊👊👊

Press Gazette @pressgazette.co.uk · 12d

Former Observer big-hitters inc @carolecadwalla.bsky.social launch new title The Nerve with redundancy payouts

After Observer sale: "We decided to launch a title that the journalists themselves would own, that would be truly independent"
pressgazette.co.uk/news/former-...

Former Observer big-hitters launch new title with redundancy payouts

Five former Observer journalists including Carole Cadwalladr have launched their own culture publication using their redundancy money.

pressgazette.co.uk

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Donald Campbell @dncampbell.bsky.social · 21d

Microsoft CEO claimed "investing in data centres was 'effectively' also investing in modernising the power grid but did not say that money would be shared directly with the UK's power supplier"

In short: he will pile more demand onto the grid but won't pay for it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

AI could boost UK economy by 10% in 5 years, says Microsoft boss

Boss Satya Nadella said it was the biggest investment the firm had made outside of the US.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Robin Berjon @robin.berjon.com · Sep 5

Oh. Wow. A fine of [*checks notes*] about 1% of Google's annual turnover as punishment for [*checks further notes*] monopolising critical infrastructure in ways that aggressively defunds democracy.

The EC's spinelessness is a revolution in materials science.
www.euractiv.com/section/tech...

EU fines Google €2.95 billion - Euractiv

The US tech giant was fined for violating EU competition rules in the advertising technology market

www.euractiv.com

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People Vs Big Tech @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social · Sep 5

Google's monopoly power rips off consumers, pollutes our information environment, and destroys the news media.

Today's €2.95 billion fine is a start, but won't touch Google's toxic ad-tech monopoly. The EU @ec.europa.eu must hold firm and now break up Google. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...

EU slaps Google with €2.95B fine despite Trump trade threat

Brussels hammers U.S. search giant after internal Commission feud.

www.politico.eu

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · Aug 30

Palantir is the last company that should be allowed anywhere near children’s services.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Coventry council to use Palantir AI in social work, Send and children’s services

Exclusive: Workers say £500k contract with US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces raises ‘serious ethical questions’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Global Action Plan @globalactionplan.bsky.social · Aug 22

Listen to Oliver Hayes, our Head of Policy and Campaigns, and Martha Dark of @foxglovelegal.bsky.social talk on @themaybe.org podcast about the legal challenge we launched against the government’s decision to force construction of a data centre in Buckinghamshire.

www.themaybe.org/podcast/shor...

The Maybe

www.themaybe.org

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Alix Dunn @alixdunn.com · Aug 22

NEWS! Foxglove (@foxglovelegal.bsky.social) and Global Action Plan (@globalactionplan.bsky.social) are suing to stop the UK govt's YOLO plans for data centers.

Want a 15min brief on the case from @marthadark.bsky.social and @olliehayes.bsky.social?

Listen here: www.themaybe.org/podcast/shor...

The Maybe

www.themaybe.org

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Privacy International @privacyinternational.org · Aug 21

⚠️ We filed a complaint against the use of two algorithms in UK immigration enforcement operations.
privacyinternational.org/long-read/5639/pi-rings-alarm-bell-and-alerts-ico-about-use-algorithms-home-office-and-their-impact

PI rings the alarm bell and alerts ICO about the use of algorithms by the Home Office and their impact on migrants

On the basis of a year of legal research by PI as well as documents obtained by other civil society organisations, and evidence provided by legal representatives fighting these automated systems on…

privacyinternational.org

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Global Action Plan @globalactionplan.bsky.social · Aug 21

"The deputy prime minister's lack of meaningful scrutiny of this application sends a worrying signal to communities across the country that more and bigger data centres are inevitable."
- Oliver Hayes, Global Action Plan, quoted in BBC coverage today.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Iver landfill data centre subject of legal action by campaigners

Campaigners are raising concerns about the environmental impact of the facility.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Leigh Day @leigh-day.bsky.social · Aug 21

A legal challenge has been launched against a decision to force through construction of a hyperscale data centre in the Buckinghamshire Green Belt.

Tech justice non-profit Foxglove and environmental charity Global Action Plan are represented by Rowan Smith.

www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/20...

Legal challenge over approval of data centre

Non-profit Foxglove and Global Action Plan have launched a legal challenge over the construction of a data centre in the Buckinghamshire Green Belt.

www.leighday.co.uk

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · Aug 21

As Rosa says re our data centre challenge "Local people and businesses in Buckinghamshire will soon be competing with a power guzzling-behemoth to keep the lights on, which as we've seen in the states, usually means sky-high prices."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Iver landfill data centre subject of legal action by campaigners

Campaigners are raising concerns about the environmental impact of the facility.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Global Action Plan @globalactionplan.bsky.social · Aug 21

Together with Foxglove, we’re launching a legal challenge against the government’s decision to force construction of a hyperscale data centre in Buckinghamshire.

Read the coverage in today's Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

@theguardian.com

Angela Rayner hit with legal challenge over datacentre on green belt land

Exclusive: Campaigners complain no environmental assessment made for 90MW Buckinghamshire facility

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Foxglove Legal @foxglovelegal.bsky.social · Aug 21

If you think our environment and our energy and water supplies are more important than the demands of Tech Billionaires, you can support our work to stop the UK Government forcing through environmentally destructive data centres here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/datacen...

Stop the Government forcing through Destructive Data Centres

Foxglove is a non-profit which exists to make technology fair for everyone. They are co-claimant in the case. Global Action Plan is an environmental charity which works to improve the health of peopl

www.crowdjustice.com

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Reposted by Martha Dark

Foxglove Legal @foxglovelegal.bsky.social · Aug 21

The Government has overturned local concerns in order to force through a hyperscale data centre in Buckinghamshire. They didn’t even bother to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment before doing so. We’re taking legal action against this decision. www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/08/21/n...

NEW CASE LAUNCH: Foxglove launches UK’s first legal challenge against the construction of a hyperscale data centre and to defend our power, water and environment

Hyperscale data centres guzzle drinking water and electrical power and emit polluting emissions, but Rayner said no environmental tests were needed.

www.foxglove.org.uk

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Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · Aug 21

We are fundraising to cover the legal costs - page here. Please share and contribute if you can. www.crowdjustice.com/case/datacen...

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Martha Dark @marthadark.bsky.social · Aug 21

NEW: we've @foxglovelegal.bsky.social filed a legal case challenging plans for a hyperscale data centre in Buckinghamshire with our friends @globalactionplan.bsky.social. Gov has failed to properly assess environmental impact & huge energy and water consumption.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Angela Rayner hit with legal challenge over datacentre on green belt land

Exclusive: Campaigners complain no environmental assessment made for 90MW Buckinghamshire facility

www.theguardian.com

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