EU Lawmakers Accuse Commission of Copying Microsoft Lobbying Text

Members of the European Parliament allege the European Commission copied lobbying text from Microsoft and DigitalEurope into a new data-center law [1, 2].

The controversy centers on a new regulation regarding environmental performance ratings for data centers. If the allegations are true, the inclusion of industry-authored language suggests that private corporations may have direct influence over the transparency of environmental reporting in the EU [1, 2].

According to the lawmakers, the European Commission integrated specific language from lobbying documents provided by Microsoft and the industry group DigitalEurope [1, 2]. This text created a secrecy provision within the rule adopted on Wednesday [1, 2]. The provision limits public access to information regarding the environmental toll of individual data centers ^[2].

MEPs said the clause was inserted specifically to prevent public scrutiny of how individual facilities impact the environment [1, 2]. By shielding this data, the regulation allows operators to avoid detailed public accounting of their energy and water usage ^[2].

The European Commission has not yet provided a detailed rebuttal to the specific claim that text was copy-pasted from industry documents ^[1]. However, the rule remains a central part of the EU's effort to regulate the growing footprint of digital infrastructure [1, 2].

Lawmakers expressed concern that the secrecy clause undermines the primary goal of the environmental rating system. They said the move prioritizes corporate confidentiality over the public's right to know the ecological cost of the digital economy [1, 2].