Data centers: critical tech infrastructure under threat

Google is investing several billion dollars in a new high-performance data center in Dietzenbach, Germany, in the greater Frankfurt area, one of Europe’s most important data center regions.
Data centers are the backbone of the modern internet and critical for national security, but they are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks and physical attacks, including drone strikes in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
In March 2026, the German government published a new national Data Center Strategy aiming to double capacity by 2030 and reduce dependence on non-European providers.
Data centers consume vast amounts of energy and water, produce electronic waste, and researchers are under pressure to find ways to make them more efficient and powered by renewable energy.
Local residents often oppose data center construction due to few jobs created and environmental impact.