Thousands of people joined a protest in Edinburgh against large-scale AI data centres, assembling at the top of the Royal Mile before marching toward the Scottish Parliament, BBC Scotland reported¹.

The demonstration is part of a wider European wave, with more than 70 protests in 15 countries this month, the report said¹. Some people came to oppose particular local plans, including proposed centres at Cockenzie in East Lothian and Larbert in Falkirk, and marchers carried banners opposing those projects¹.

Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has said AI could deliver significant community benefit, and he compared data centres to the whisky bonds of the AI sector, according to BBC Scotland¹. Residents near proposed sites have previously told BBC Scotland they worry about appearance, noise and the land required¹.

Scotland's largest existing centre is thought to be DataVita's Airdrie site at 12 megawatts, BBC Scotland said, while a planned Chapelcross project in Dumfries and Galloway would have 1,000 megawatts of capacity if it proceeds¹. 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 supplies¹.

Smith told BBC Scotland some of the discourse was wild, adding, "You'd think there wasn't a planning system at all"¹. He said comparing a poorly sited centre in the Utah desert does not match what Scotland would build¹. Earlier this month he attended an Edinburgh meeting with businesses on AI adoption and skills, the report said¹.