Finland's Left should lead on fair AI policy because the governing right is subordinating public interest to Big Tech
Source: Mike Watson. "In Finland, the Left Can Lead on Fair AI Policy." November 7, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
Google allegedly cut down forests in Finland for data centers without doing required environmental checks, and the right-wing government seems happy to let it slide while little of the investment money stays in Finland. The author argues the Finnish Left has a better plan to make sure AI benefits ordinary people through jobs, shorter work hours, retraining and environmental protection.
Conclusion
Finland's Left (Left Alliance, SDP, Greens) is better placed than the governing right to lead on AI policy, ensuring that AI and data-center expansion serve workers, communities and the environment rather than foreign tech firms, and AI should be a central issue in the upcoming election.
Premises
- Google cleared hundreds of acres of forest for data centers in Muhos and Kajaani before completing mandatory environmental impact assessments or ensuring replanting, and authorities ordered work stopped.
- The governing parties (National Coalition and Finns Party) welcomed Google's €13 billion investment and appear unlikely to impose sanctions, while the Finns Party's nationalist rhetoric contrasts with its tolerance of a foreign firm damaging Finnish nature.
- Only a small fraction of the investment will remain in Finland, since Finland supplies land and infrastructure while profits go elsewhere; the government is also cutting corporate income tax and pursuing austerity.
- Finland has 10% unemployment, the highest in the EU, making it especially vulnerable to AI-induced job loss, and data centers risk raising electricity costs for residents.
- The Left has concrete proposals: data-center growth must yield tax revenue, jobs and expertise rather than burden residents; AI productivity gains should be shared as shorter working hours; and lifelong learning and flexible degree studies should help workers adapt.
- Right-wing parties only pay lip service to fair AI outcomes while courting capital, whereas the Left is positioned to defend the public interest.
Assumptions
- The Google forest-clearing episode is representative of broader risks from AI and data-center expansion, and of the government's general posture toward tech investment.
- Voters care enough about AI, jobs and the environment to make them decisive electoral issues.
- Tax revenue, jobs and expertise from data centers can be captured through domestic policy without driving away investment.
- Productivity gains from AI will materialize and can be redistributed as reduced working hours.
- Left parties' policy proposals would actually be implemented and effective if they gained power.
- Government support for foreign investment necessarily means neglect of the public interest.
- The author's claims about the limited share of investment staying in Finland are accurate.