CHILE, DRAINED BY DATA CENTERS

The world in all its states

An episode from the series ARTE INVESTIGATION

Synopsis

In Chile, water is disappearing, and not just because of drought. In the suburbs of Santiago, wetlands are drying up and aquifers are being depleted by data centers that power the world’s artificial intelligence. The situation is all the more concerning given that the government has approved a plan to triple their number across the country.

Through the struggles of artisans, activists, and families forced into exile, this report asks a question no one wants to answer: who really benefits from the digital transition?