In today’s Digest, we discuss Google’s soaring carbon emissions, Canada dropping a tech tax amid Trump trade talks, and Facebook requesting Meta AI access to unshared camera roll photos.

Google’s Emissions Surge 51% as AI Power Use Grows

Google’s carbon footprint has surged by 51% since 2019, reveals the tech giant’s latest Environmental Report. The growing demand for artificial intelligence is driving a sharp rise in data centre electricity usage, undercutting the tech giant’s climate goals. Despite investments in renewables and carbon removal initiatives, Google has struggled to rein in scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions stemming largely from its expanding data centre operations. These data centres, essential for powering large-scale AI models including Gemini, have driven the company’s electricity consumption to rise 27% year-on-year.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that total global data centre electricity use could reach 1,000 terawatt hours by 2026, equivalent to Japan’s entire energy demand. By 2030, research firm SemiAnalysis forecasts that AI could account for 4.5% of the world’s total power generation.

Canada Drops Tech Tax Amid Trump Trade Talks

Canada has abandoned its planned digital services tax just hours before implementation. This move is aimed at unfreezing trade negotiations with the US following criticism from president Trump, who labelled the levy a “direct and blatant” attack on American tech firms. The now abandoned 3% tax, which would have applied to revenues generated by major digital companies operating in Canada, was set to take effect on 30th June.

According to Canada’s finance minister François-Philippe Champagne, Canadian officials have chosen to prioritise diplomatic and economic ties with their largest trading partner, the US.

“Rescinding the digital services tax will allow the negotiations of a new economic and security relationship with the US to make vital progress and reinforce our work to create jobs and build prosperity for all Canadians,” he said. 

Facebook Requests Meta AI Access to Unshared Camera Roll Photos

Meta is prompting Facebook users to grant the app access to their phone’s camera rolls, including photos not yet shared, to enable AI-generated edits and creative suggestions. The request surfaces when users create a new Story on the app, where a pop-up screen asks users to opt into “cloud processing”. If accepted, Facebook will continuously upload media from the device’s camera roll to Meta’s servers, using data points such as time, location, and themes to suggest collages, AI restylings, and recaps.

According to Meta’s AI terms, once media is shared, the company can analyse the images including facial features to modify or generate new content. The terms allows Meta to deliver new AI-powered features, including summarising image content, modifying photos, and generating entirely new visuals based on the original media, the company states. The terms also give Meta the right to retain and use personal data submitted via prompts or other interactions with its AI, including the review of conversations by humans. What constitutes "personal information" remains loosely defined within the policy.