Thousands of people marched through Edinburgh on Saturday 14 November demanding that the Scottish Government halt approvals for new AI data centres until communities have been given a say.

Organisers reported more than 6,000 demonstrators, with over 80 organisations supporting the protest, including environmental groups, trade unions, charities and local campaigners.

More than 20 data centre developments are proposed across Scotland, prompting concerns about electricity demand, environmental damage and the influence of major technology companies.

Campaigners want a national consultation before further projects are approved.

Kim Pratt, senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“Thousands came out to demand that the people of Scotland can have their say on these monstrous AI data centres.

“Community groups facing down these projects were joined by environmental, anti-poverty and anti-war organisations and artists, demonstrating that this is an issue that is important to everyone.

“The huge data centres being proposed would crowd out communities, double Scotland’s electricity demand and make our energy bills more expensive, as well as trashing our climate commitments and using thousands of tonnes of precious materials, such as nickel and copper.

“The Scottish Government has failed to explain why it thinks AI data centres are needed in Scotland and how it will protect people from their harms.

“We’ve seen how normal people suffer when big tech is allowed to push through their data centre plans in other countries, the same thing cannot be allowed to happen here.

“That’s why we are demanding that people are given a say on AI data centres in Scotland before any decisions are made.”

Among those demonstrating were residents opposing a proposed 200 megawatt development at Hermiston in west Edinburgh.

Sarah Finlay, from West Edinburgh Against AI Data Centres, said:

“We’re parents, neighbours and ordinary people who care about where we live and the future of Scotland.

“Today showed that what started for us as a local fight in West Edinburgh has become a nationwide movement against US tech billionaires.

“We cannot allow them to dictate the future of our countryside and our communities, they do not bring the benefits that many developers, tech firms and Donald Trump would lead us to believe.

“We are asking the Scottish Government to stand shoulder to shoulder with us and not let this happen.

“Big tech, go hame tae think again!”

Opposition has also emerged around the proposed Chapelcross development in Dumfries and Galloway.

Local campaigner Sam Gibson said:

“We marched to say that we don’t want AI data centres in Scotland.

“The Annan and wider Dumfries and Galloway communities have let it be known that we do not want a data centre here or anywhere else.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to call in the Chapelcross data centre application, and to press the brakes on AI data centre developments across the country.

“The risks of these developments are numerous and serious.

“The health and voices of our communities matter.”

Kat Jones, Director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, said:

“Today we sent a clear message to the Scottish Government.

“It must stop ignoring the calls from civil society to be involved in discussions around the future of hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland. We have had enough of hearing how the data centre developers have had a hotline to the decision makers while communities and environmental organisation are excluded.

“Now let us have our say!”

Glasgow poet Kate Ireland, who performed at the rally, said:

“I’m scared about the arts, I’m scared about our jobs, our livelihoods, and I’m scared for the essential green spaces in Scotland.

“The climate crisis should be our number one priority as people on this earth, and these computer generated monoliths are the exact opposite of a thriving natural world.

“But I’m hopeful in the power of the people, the monster is unmasking, making itself so apparent it’s impossible to ignore, and we will rise up together to show it that we never needed it in the first place.”

The march formed part of a wider European campaign against large data centres, with organisers insisting Scotland’s communities must help decide whether these developments should proceed.