Batam residents protest data centers over worsening water shortages

Residents of Batam island in Indonesia protested against severe water shortages disrupting their daily lives. The protesters blame new data centers for exacerbating the local water crisis by consuming freshwater resources. In response, authorities have instructed data center operators to build their own desalination plants to reduce strain on public supplies. While the local water utility has pledged to improve the situation, community concerns about water access remain high.