Thousands turn out in Edinburgh to protest against AI data centres

Thousands of people assembled at the top of the Royal Mile before marching towards the Scottish Parliament carrying placards and wearing costumes, according to BBC reporting. Demonstrators carried slogans including "AI data centres threaten humanity" and "AI data centres: costing the Earth". The protest reflects widespread debate regarding the environmental impact of data centres and mirrors a wave of similar demonstrations across Europe.

Participants voiced opposition to specific community developments, including projects planned for Cockenzie in East Lothian, Larbert in Falkirk, and Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway. Kim Cairns, a campaigner for 'Say No To Chapelcross AI Data Centre', told BBC Scotland News that her community fears noise, road closures, and access problems during construction alongside operational noise. Cairns stated that the project would require vast amounts of electricity and turn currently green fields with sheep and cows into a monstrosity on the environment. Friends of the Earth campaigner Kim Pratt warned that big tech companies will make significant profits while creating national-level impacts, including increased energy bills and climate consequences.

Scotland's current largest data centre is considered to be DataVita's site in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, which holds a 12MW capacity. However, the planned Chapelcross facility would feature a capacity of 1,000MW, making it one of the largest data centres globally. The Scottish Greens and campaign groups have urged a moratorium on large data centres, arguing they risk undermining climate targets and adding pressure to renewable energy supplies. Meanwhile, Alloa Advertiser reported that Brian Leishman MP criticized the SNP for putting profits before people with their AI stance, and The National Scot noted that objections against plans for what could be the world's largest data centre have hit a big milestone.

Innovation Minister Alyn Smith previously told BBC Scotland that some discourse around the subject was wild and stated that comparing a bad data centre in the middle of the Utah desert does not track through to Scottish plans. Smith also described data centres as "the whisky bonds of the AI sector". The Scottish government confirmed that it will publish new planning guidance before the end of the year and is developing a strategy to maximise public benefit. Additionally, planning authorities must now notify ministers of new applications, and a new planning direction mandates an Environmental Impact Assessment for any data centre exceeding a power capacity of 50 megawatts.