Ex-Microsoft: The Impact of Data Centres on Communities | Mike Miles
From The Tools at Hand with Harrison Gardner · 50:51
Show by harrisongardner
The internet feels invisible. But behind every search, stream and message is a vast network of data centres, and the communities hosting them are living with the consequences. So what happens when the infrastructure powering our digital lives arrives on your doorstep?I sat down with Mike Miles, who spent around 20 years at Microsoft, including five years building its community development organisation, and now works as a consultant and coach in the sector. We discuss how data centres are planned, what they mean for local communities, and how companies can become better neighbours.We look at the realities behind the promises of investment and employment, the environmental costs of digital infrastructure, and the ways communities can influence decisions about what gets built on their doorstep.Mike also shares lessons from Microsoft's approach to community engagement, while we challenge where responsibility should sit: with the companies building these facilities, the people using their services, or both.The digital world may feel invisible, but the infrastructure behind it has a very real impact on the places where we live. The question is how we make sure the communities hosting it have a meaningful say in its future.Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/HarrisonGardnerConnect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_harrisongardnerWebsite: https://www.harrisongardner.net/Bookstore: https://www.harrisongardner.net/bookstore-1 Pre-order my new book HEAT SHELTER WATER FOODhttps://www.harrisongardner.net/bookstore-1 Connect with Mike:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-j-miles/
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