Shiona McCallum strides through the cavernous halls of VivaTech in Paris, one of Europe’s biggest technology events, her wrist wrapped in a prototype that promises to track her health more intimately than any smartwatch. But the gadget she’s trying on is merely a sideshow to a deeper unease: the data centres that power nearly every digital convenience are facing a crisis of public trust.
McCallum, reporting for the BBC’s Tech Life programme, weaves between booths showcasing the latest kit destined for homes and workplaces before too long. Yet the real story, she says, is happening behind the scenes. Data centres are the invisible backbone of modern online lives — but not everyone thinks they are great.
“Shiona McCallum explores data centre challenges at VivaTech Paris, speaking to a global company head.”
In a conversation with the head of a major global data centre company, McCallum explores the growing challenges facing the industry. The executive, whose firm operates facilities that store and process unimaginable amounts of data, points to mounting concerns over energy consumption, water use, and the physical footprint of these sprawling buildings. Local communities increasingly resist planning applications, and governments are eyeing stricter regulations.
The interview, recorded amid the buzz of VivaTech, reveals an industry struggling to balance explosive demand with environmental and social pressures. As artificial intelligence and streaming services drive ever more data traffic, the need for new centres intensifies — but so does the opposition.
Back on the show floor, the wearable tech on McCallum’s arm is a reminder of the convenience that data centres enable. Yet the conversation with the company chief lingers: can the industry build enough capacity without alienating the very people it serves? The answer, still unfolding, may determine how — and where — our digital future is housed.