75 organisations to attend protest march against AI data centres

Campaigners have said 75 organisations are set to protest against AI data centres in Scotland as charities demand “a proper public consultation” on plans.

The protest is set to take place on Saturday November 14 and will include trade unions, anti-war groups and housing campaigners.

The march down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh is part of a Europe-wide wave of protests called Stop Dirty Data Centres, with more than 70 demonstrations taking place in 15 countries in November.

A coalition of organisations has come together to plan the protest, including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Action to Protect Rural Scotland and numerous local campaign groups protesting against data centres, including in Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh and Larbert.

Charities are demanding that the Scottish Government publicly consult on these plans for AI data centres before making decisions to approve them, in a “national conversation” in which people across Scotland can have their say.

Kim Pratt, from Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the organisation is demanding “a proper public consultation” on AI data centre plans.

She said: “The movement against AI data centres is growing day by day as people realise the threats they pose to our land, our energy and our environment.

“It is heartening to see so many diverse and respected organisations coming together to speak out and to join the march.

“We need a public conversation about the need for AI and monster data centres.

“The Scottish Government should be led by what the people of Scotland think about these proposals, and not the profits of big tech developers.

“That’s why we’re marching to demand a proper public consultation on these AI data centre plans before any developers can force them through.”

Plans are in place to build at least 23 giant AI data centres.

At Auchtertool the planned 600MW data centre would span 60 hectares.

Claire Robertson, from Edinburgh Trades Union Council, said the organisation is demanding that “public resources are protected under democratic control”.

She continued: “Technological progress must serve the collective good, and the massive wealth generated by automated systems must be fairly redistributed to the society that builds it, rather than hoarded by a handful of tech billionaires.”

Gordon Maloney, chairman of tenants’ union Living Rent Edinburgh, said: “Our politicians are supposed to protect the interests of the people, not big corporations.

“We need our politicians to stand up for the people who live in Scotland and stop AI data centres being built across the country.”

Anti-war groups have also shared concerns at the use of AI in military settings.

Coll McCail, from the Stop the War Coalition in Scotland, shared concerns that Scotland’s proposed data centres could be used for “such aims, without sufficient public debate or discussion”.

He said: “The rise of AI and the growing power of the tech oligarchy are intimately tied to the military-industrial complex.

“The Pentagon, for example, has already adopted an ‘AI first’ approach to warfare, spending nine billion dollars on data centres.

“Closer to home, Peter Thiel’s Palantir has embedded itself within the Ministry of Defence, and the UK Government has contracted Raytheon to train 60,000 soldiers in military AI every year.

“Scotland’s proposed data centres may yet be put in service for such aims, without sufficient public debate or discussion.

“That’s why Stop the War Coalition has significant concerns about these developments and why we’re demanding a change in approach.”

Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said: “As this is an emerging industry, we have the opportunity to get this right from the start.

“Data centres represent a rapidly emerging sector and planning has an important role to play in considering applications, harnessing economic opportunities, and finding solutions which align with our climate goals.

“The Scottish Government will be publishing new planning guidance on data centres before the end of the year.

“Our planning system ensures people and communities can get involved and have their say about the development and use of land in their area and the guidance can help support that including through advice on early engagement with communities.

“Planning authorities are also now required to notify ministers of new data centre applications, with a new planning direction also requiring an environmental impact assessment to be submitted during planning for all new data centres with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts.”