Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:48am on 13 Oct 2026,Tuesday Tech Today
Residents on Indonesia’s Batam island have protested against water shortages, raising concerns about the growing demand from data centres. Around 300 people reportedly gathered at Nongsa Digital Park, carrying empty bottles and containers. Some residents say their taps have remained dry for months, forcing families to depend on water tankers. Authorities have blamed a prolonged dry spell and denied claims that household water is being diverted to data centres. Batam has approved 10 data centres as investment exceeds $6.7 billion. Officials have instructed new projects to build desalination plants, while residents demand reliable water supplies for local communities. (PC: BBC)
