The new Latin American Data Center Observatory will map the socio-environmental impacts, water demand, and energy consumption of digital infrastructure expansion in Brazil and Mexico starting in 2027.
The accelerating global digital transformation has demanded a robust infrastructure of data centers, facilities that are highly intensive in the use of natural resources and electricity. To monitor the consequences of this advance in Latin America, the Public Policy and Internet Laboratory (LAPIN), in partnership with various international experts and entities, is preparing the launch of the Latin American Data Center Observatory for February 2027.
The initiative comes at a critical moment for the clean energy and sustainability sector, where the pursuit of solid energy efficiency intersects with the need to protect vulnerable territories. The project will bring together research, local community data, and regulatory analyses to assess how technological expansion affects regional socio-environmental balance.
The initial focus will be on Brazil and Mexico, countries that have attracted substantial investment in the digital technologies sector. In Brazil, the mapping will begin in strategic regions where large projects are planned, such as Caucaia, in Ceará, and Eldorado do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul.
Socio-environmental monitoring and energy transition
The main goal of the observatory is to build solid evidence on technological ventures, tracking territorial conflicts and legal disputes. Additionally, the initiative seeks to critically analyze the narratives that justify the rapid expansion of these infrastructures and to develop standardized methodologies for assessing environmental licensing and the associated water and electricity consumption.
In Brazil, the initial focus turns to Caucaia (CE), where a large-scale project linked to TikTok is underway, and Eldorado do Sul (RS), which also appears on the new investment roadmap. The detailed analysis of these cases aims to ensure that technological progress does not compromise local energy security or ecosystem preservation.
Common Challenges and Community Listening
The project’s structure gained momentum during the II Artificial Intelligence, Environment, and Socio‑Environmental Justice Seminar held in Fortaleza. The event fostered dialogue between community and indigenous leaders from Brazil, Mexico, and Chile, revealing similar patterns in how these infrastructures are installed across the countries.
Cynthia Picolo, president‑director of LAPIN, stated:
When we listened to people from Mexico and Chile, it felt like I was hearing the case of Caucaia exactly.
The conversations highlighted frequent concerns about project opacity and the burden on essential public services. In listening sessions with the Anacé indigenous people in Ceará, systematic gaps in the transparency of the implementation stages of the technological complexes were identified.
Felipe Silva, executive director of LAPIN, emphasized:
We observed a troubling pattern involving the advancement of large‑scale projects without prior, free, and informed consultation, a lack of information on water and energy demand, and weaknesses in environmental licensing processes.
The international debate also included contributions from Javier Palummo, special rapporteur of the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS). The effort is supported by organizations such as the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Terramar Institute, O Joio e O Trigo, and the Green Screen Coalition.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The emergence of the Latin American Data Center Observatory establishes an essential regulatory and citizen‑watchdog framework for Latin America. As demand for data processing and artificial intelligence grows, it becomes urgent to align technological development with global commitments to socio‑environmental justice and emission reductions.
With the expansion of monitoring to other Latin American countries starting in 2027, the expectation is to drive rigorous public policies that require maximum energy efficiency, renewable‑energy supply, and full transparency in the allocation of natural resources.