Why is drought-hit Brazil saying yes to AI data centers?

• AI data centers require huge infrastructure, consuming significant energy and fresh water resources.
• Brazil is eager to host such centers, though its rivers are suffering droughts, creating a conflict of interest.

AI data centers require enormous amounts of energy and water, which poses a critical problem for drought-affected regions in Brazil like Calcaia. Despite government incentives and big tech companies like TikTok backing data center projects promising jobs and economic growth, the reality is far bleaker. Local jobs are few once construction is finished, and the environmental toll includes significant water consumption that exacerbates existing water scarcity, along with increased energy costs and noise pollution.

Moreover, there's a troubling lack of transparency about where water for cooling these centers will come from, with local populations uninformed about the true impact. This situation is complicated by the Brazilian government's apparent blind spot on environmental oversight, as the environmental ministry has been excluded from policy discussions. Laís Martins argues that communities deserve access to detailed environmental data to make informed decisions amid this digital gold rush.

• Calcaia is a hot, coastal Brazilian city affected by droughts and violent conflicts, chosen for a major data center.
• TikTok backs a data center there, attracted by the strategic submarine internet cables in the northeast of Brazil.