SriLanka, Oct. 31 -- Finnish police have launched a criminal investigation into suspected violations of environmental laws at the construction site of a planned Google data centre in northern Finland.

The project is part of Google's $15 billion investment plan in Finland, announced last month by its parent company, Alphabet. The US technology giant described the investment as its largest in Europe, covering artificial intelligence infrastructure and related energy projects.

Authorities suspect that Tuike Finland, an Alphabet subsidiary operating under Google, carried out forest clearing and drainage activities at a proposed data centre site near the town of Muhos before completing the environmental impact assessments required by Finnish...