Publish at January 14 2026 Updated January 14 2026
Cloud computing seems like a magical technology, used by every smartphone user to a greater or lesser extent. But data requires servers more than ever. As a result, data centers are springing up all over the planet, particularly in the southern hemisphere, where resources are more readily available.
Particularly the water needed to cool all those servers and computers. In Chile, water rights allow companies to pay for and draw major quantities of water. There are already 33 data centers in Chile, and it is predicted that this number could triple.
This inevitably leads to the drying up of water sources. Marshes are being drained completely, farmers no longer have as much access to water for their crops, and some are even being forced to leave certain regions where data centers are the only priority.
These major climatic and environmental exoduses are prompting some Chileans to take up the fight against giants like Google and Amazon, whose artificial intelligences are further increasing the need for data and, consequently, energy and water consumption. Ironically, ARTE's report ends with the response of a conversational robot who fully admits that decisive regulations are needed to safeguard drinking water worldwide.
Running time: 25 minutes
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