THE CLOUD WEIGHS: EXPANSION OF DATA CENTERS TO THE AMAZON REGION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE INFORMATION AGE

Abstract

The intensification of the digital economy and the growing demand for data-based services have driven the expansion of data centers, essential infrastructures for the operation of the so-called “cloud.” Although often perceived as intangible, these facilities possess significant physical materiality, requiring complex systems for continuous data processing, storage, and cooling. In the Amazon region, the installation of data centers has been encouraged by factors such as energy availability and economic incentives; however, it also raises substantial environmental concerns, particularly due to high electricity consumption and intensive use of water resources. In this context, a critical analysis of the relationship between technological development and environmental sustainability becomes necessary. This article aims to examine the socio-environmental impacts resulting from the expansion of data centers in the Amazon, in light of sustainable development and environmental protection, discussing regulatory challenges and the need to reconcile technological innovation with the preservation of Amazonian ecosystems. It argues that the absence of a specific regulatory framework and of public policies guided by the precautionary principle and the socio-environmental function of economic activity may intensify environmental risks and regional asymmetries. The study adopts a qualitative and exploratory methodology, based on bibliographic and documentary research, drawing on Environmental Law and interdisciplinary approaches.