Germana Carillo TikTok plans a massive data center in drought-hit Ceará, Brazil, sparking fierce resistance from the Anacé Indigenous community over water use and land rights.
In the Brazilian state of Ceará, the Anacé Indigenous community is facing the prospect of losing its ancestral lands. The reason? TikTok is planning to build a massive data center in this drought-stricken region.
The facility, located in Caucaia in the country’s north, is expected to consume around 8,000 gallons (30,000 liters) of water every day to cool its servers. The water will be pumped from an artesian well, drilled deep into the water table to bring groundwater to the surface.
Authorities, as is often the case, have promised jobs for the local population, in one of Brazil’s poorest regions. But NGOs fear the project will further deplete the fragile ecosystem of the Sertão, already struggling with its semi-arid climate.
Water-hungry technology in dry lands
A Guardian investigation published in April showed that tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have been placing their data centers in some of the world’s driest regions, potentially depriving them of even more water. The British daily counted 38 active sites and 24 under construction in countries like South Africa, Kuwait, Chile, and the United Arab Emirates.
Against this backdrop, in late August, the Anacé people formally filed a complaint with federal authorities, asking them to halt TikTok’s project.
The Anacé have long claimed the land where both TikTok and Casa dos Ventos, a wind energy company set to power the facility, plan to build. Community leaders argue that their right to consultation—enshrined in international agreements—has been ignored, and that their warnings over water use have been dismissed.
“They are putting it right next to the river, in indigenous territory that holds spiritual and ceremonial meaning for the community,” Ytaysaba told Rest of World.
An ancient people sidelined
The Anacé, who have lived in the region since the 17th century, say the project is encroaching on traditionally occupied land without the free, prior, and informed consultation required by law. This, they argue, not only violates their rights but also ignores critical environmental concerns.
The Anacé resistance
The fight against TikTok’s mega data center has become emblematic of a broader clash between technology and indigenous rights. The Brazilian government granted permits without consultation, despite being bound by the International Labour Organization Convention, which guarantees that indigenous peoples must be heard before any development takes place on their territories.
Community members insist the official environmental assessments are incomplete. Even the daily 8,000 gallons (30,000 liters) of water use declared by developers seems understated when compared to similar projects.
Meanwhile, Brazil has seen a staggering 330% increase in applications for grid connections by data centers in the past year alone. The country already hosts more than 180 facilities and aspires to become a global hub for artificial intelligence, leveraging its renewable energy resources. Yet this so-called progress comes at a heavy price: displaced communities, massive consumption of water and energy, and mounting conflicts.
The Anacé, about 1,500 families in total, denounce what they see as constitutional violations and demand the project’s immediate suspension. Their case is not isolated. From Chile to the Netherlands, and even across the United States, communities are rising up against data centers that drain vital resources in fragile territories.
Despite threats and mounting pressure, the Anacé remain defiant. They are ready to escalate their mobilization to defend their land, their water, and ultimately their future.
Sources: Rest of World / Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / The Guardian
