Thousands of people marched down Edinburgh's Royal Mile on Saturday and gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to protest against proposed AI data centres. Campaigners said an estimated 6,000 people turned up, and more than 80 organisations and groups backed the march, including community campaigners, climate organisations, trade unions, artists and anti-poverty charities.

The protesters are demanding that the Scottish Government publicly consult on plans for AI data centres before any are approved, through a "national conversation" in which people across Scotland can have their say. Kim Pratt, a senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the Scottish Government has so far "failed to explain" why the facilities are needed in Scotland, and she called for a pause on current developments while that conversation takes place. She asked what the benefits would be, who would receive them, what the costs would be and who would be made to pay, arguing that the proposals would mainly benefit large companies and that "profit is being put before people."S1S2

There are 23 proposals for AI data centres of differing sizes and at various stages of planning across Scotland, and many communities have opposed them. Gail Scott of the Cockenzie Communities Action Group, which opposes a plan for a 70-acre hyperscale site, warned of pollution, health risks and damage to local wildlife habitats. Kim Cairns of the Say No To Chapelcross AI Data Centre campaign raised concerns about noise, road closures and access problems during construction, and the electricity the site would need. The biggest existing data centre in Scotland is thought to be DataVita's site in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, with a capacity of 12MW, whereas a planned Chapelcross site in Dumfries and Galloway would have a capacity of 1,000MW and rank among the largest in the world.S1S2

The Scottish Government says it will soon publish new planning guidance on data centres and is developing a strategy to maximise public benefit. Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has described data centres as "the whisky bonds of the AI sector" and has said some of the discussion around the subject has been "wild". The Scottish Greens and campaign groups have called for a moratorium on large data centres, arguing they could undermine climate targets and add pressure on renewable energy supplies.S2