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Thousands protest in Edinburgh against large-scale AI data centres

8h

Summary

  • Thousands of protesters marched in Edinburgh from the top of the Royal Mile towards the Scottish Parliament against large-scale AI data centres.
  • The Edinburgh protest was part of more than 70 protests in 15 European countries in November 2026.
  • The Scottish Greens and campaign groups call for a moratorium, arguing large data centres could undermine climate targets and strain renewable energy supplies.
  • The Scottish government says it is developing a strategy to maximise public benefit from data centres and will publish new planning guidance before the end of the year.
  • Scotland's biggest operating data centre is DataVita's 12MW site in Airdrie; a planned Chapelcross centre would have 1,000MW, among the world's largest.
  • Some protesters opposed local plans, including Cockenzie in East Lothian and Larbert in Falkirk.

Reactions

  • Innovation Minister Alyn Smith called data centres 'the whisky bonds of the AI sector' and described some of the discourse as 'wild'.
  • Protesters rejected Smith's characterisation, carrying slogans such as 'AI data centres threaten humanity' and 'AI data centres: costing the Earth'.
  • The Scottish Greens and campaign groups called for a moratorium on large data centres.
  • A Scottish government spokesperson said planning authorities must notify ministers of new data centre applications.
  • A Scottish government spokesperson said a new planning direction requires Environmental Impact Assessments for data centres exceeding 50 megawatts.
  • Smith said comparing a data centre in the Utah desert does not track through to what Scotland is going to have.

Timeline newest first

  1. Earlier in November 2026, Innovation Minister Alyn Smith attended an Edinburgh meeting with businesses on the challenges and benefits of adopting AI, including the role of universities in developing data skills.

Sources newest first

  • Thousands turn out in Edinburgh to protest against AI data centresbbc.com· 8h

    A BBC Scotland News article by Mary McCool reports that thousands protested in Edinburgh against large-scale AI data centres, marching from the top of the Royal Mile towards the Scottish Parliament as part of more than 70 protests in 15 European countries. Innovation Minister Alyn Smith calls data centres "the whisky bonds of the AI sector," which protesters reject, while the Scottish Greens and campaign groups seek a moratorium and the government says it will publish new planning guidance before the end of the year.