How Ethical Is Your Cloud Provider? Concerns & Cost!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used the cloud today! Whether it’s casually scrolling through Netflix, saving a selfie to Google Drive, or uploading business files to Google Drive, Cloud Computing is running in the background. But have you ever stopped and considered: Is it ethical? Is it sustainable? What labor is used to build the cloud?

Most people don’t. Because the cloud feels invisible. It’s not like burning fossil fuels or chopping down trees, we can’t see it happen. But that doesn’t mean it’s without its consequences.In this blog, we’re going to explore what is really happening within those servers far away, how cloud data storage erases your environmental footprint and wage laborers (workers), and how to know if you are working with an Ethical Cloud Provider.

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The Cloud is Not Really in the Sky

First off- the cloud is not in the sky. The cloud is a network of physical servers, data centers that are full of computers running all day, every day. Servers that are holding your data, running your apps, bringing your websites to life.

And here’s the thing? They use a LOT of energy. A similarly 2022 report by the IEA (International Energy Agency), said data centres account for a modest: 1-1.5% of global electricity use. Now, that may not seem like a lot, but it’s more than a lot of countries.

This leads to the big question…

What is the Environmental impact of Cloud Computing?

Each time we store something in the cloud, stream a video or refresh a web page— all of these actions result in a chain of transfers of data across these massive data centres.

• Many centres use fossil fuels
• Cooling systems use large quantities of water and electricity
• Discarded server upgrade e-waste continues to seep into landfills

A 2020 Greenpeace study showed that only a handful of those cloud companies are making genuine strides towards sustainable cloud computing, while most others, are stealthily burning coal-powered electricity and are silent about it.

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An example: Apple vs Amazon

Apple proudly says that all their data centres are running on 100% renewable energy. However, Amazon Web Services (AWS), while improving and have strong green energy initiatives, still have a significant number of their facilities running on non-renewable energy, especially in Virginia, USA, which is home to one of their largest data areas.

So, depending on how you use the cloud, you could be sitting with a significantly larger carbon footprint?

Water, Land, and Heat

Many people likely don’t realize this—but many data centers exist next to rivers or lakes! Why?  Because they need water.

For example, in 2022, Google used around 5 billion gallons of water to cool its data centers. In arid regions like Arizona, this can create friction with local communities, especially during droughts.

Additionally, constructing gigantic data centers consumes land—often displacing small farmers, or wildlife in remote areas. Even the heat generated by the data centers can drive up local temperatures.

Contract Workers and Pay

Cloud companies do not tend to mention anything about the people that work behind the scenes. But there are labor issues here as well, and for that matter. They get low wages and experience unsafe working conditions too. Big tech companies tend to utilize subcontractors for the maintenance, cleaning, and security of data centers. Workers often earn lower wages and have fewer options for benefits, and sometimes they are even placed in unsafe conditions. In one investigation by Wired, they found that for data centers, temps could sometimes be reached at 38° C (100° F) with/or poor ventilation, which is exhausting and even unsafe.

AI and Content Moderation

Some services provided by cloud companies will be used to train models for Artificial Intelligence. But who is training the AI? More often than not, these are workers in developing nations that are paid $1–2/hour for tagging images, labeling data, and moderating very disturbing content.

When you witness a complex chatbot or facial-recognition option on your app, there is a very high likelihood that someone, somewhere, put in long hours of invisible, poorly paid work to make it happen.

Are You Using An Ethical Cloud Provider?

Now, the big question is, how do you know if you’re using an Ethical Cloud Provider?

Here are some indications to look for:

Energy Transparency

Good providers openly share the reports about how much energy they use and the sources of it. They address their transition to green energy—not just in words, but with numbers.

Labor Practices

Ethical companies explain how they treat their workers, whether they spread the work out using subcontractors, and what types of protections are in place. If your provider never mentions this … this could mean they don’t want to tell you.

Privacy of your Data and Security for Cloud Computing

An ethical provider should be concerned with protecting your data, too. Good cloud computing security guarantees your information is not for sale, nor are they leaking it, or selling something inappropriate with your data. The companies that are cavalier with user data are unlikely to be ethical in other things as well.

Some Providers Are Doing Better

Microsoft

Microsoft is working towards being carbon negative by 2030. This means they intend to remove more carbon than they are creating. They have made investments in solar farms and are utilizing artificial intelligence to monitor energy usage in their Azure data centers.

Google Cloud

Google has been carbon neutral since 2007 and plans to run solely on carbon-free energy by 2030. They also publicly disclose their environmental data.

Others

Some major cloud providers are less transparent. If you cannot find information about their energy sources, labor policies, or cloud based data storage approaches…it should raise concerns.

What can You Do?

You may think, “Well I am just one person or one small business, what impact can I have”? Trust me, it can be a significant impact.

Here’s how:

Be Selective

If you are building a website, an app or storing a bunch of files: compare cloud providers. Whoever you choose, look to see the commitments to green energy, labor policies, and security of the cloud computing security infrastructure.

Reduce Digital Waste

Delete the old backups. Compress. Use lightweight webpages. Every minor reduction means less load on the servers and less energy used.

Be Curious

Email your service provider. Ask them what they are doing to support sustainable cloud computing. You would be amazed at how few people ask, and how much power you wield as a customer.

Concluding thoughts

The cloud is not some mysterious space. It is real. It is physical. It is supported by power, people, water, and choices made by companies – everyday choices that affect people and the planet. Cloud Computing helps us work faster, store more, and scale businesses in ways we haven’t been able to do before. But this doesn’t mean we’.ll ignore the cost. The environmental impact of cloud computing, hidden labor, and dangerous data practices are real issues, and worthy of our attention.

It’s not about perfect. You don’t have to stop overnight. The first step is awareness. Start asking questions. Start making small, better choices. If more people start caring about ethics, the industries will need to care too. Because at the end of the day, the cloud is our cloud. We nurture what we support. We allow things to flourish that we ignore.

So, next time you save a file, a stream a video or launch an app – ask yourself:

“Who is powering this cloud? And are they doing it right?”

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