EU Faces Legal Challenge Over Data‑Center Energy Transparency

Lighthouse Reports, a Dutch NGO, has filed a complaint with the European Commission under the Aarhus Convention, alleging that Brussels has erected a “wall of silence” around the energy and water consumption of data centers. The complaint claims that EU rules prevent the public from accessing detailed consumption data, allowing operators to keep figures confidential and undermining citizens’ right to environmental information. The case will be examined in November by the Aarhus Convention compliance committee, which could find the EU in breach of its obligations. The EU, meanwhile, plans to triple data‑center capacity and has introduced a transparency label and an A‑G rating system, but the NGO argues these measures still hide total consumption figures. The dispute highlights tensions between data‑center expansion, energy demand, and public accountability.