Thousands turn out in Edinburgh to protest against AI data centres

Demonstrators with placards - and some dressed in costume - assembled at the top of the Royal Mile before marching towards the Scottish Parliament. The event comes at a time of widespread debate about the environmental impact of data centres and is part of a wave of protests across Europe. The Scottish government will soon publish new planning guidance on data centres and said it was developing a strategy to maximise the "public benefit".

However protesters made it clear they disagree - carrying slogans such as "AI data centres threaten humanity" and "AI data centres: costing the Earth". Some attended to voice their opposition to plans for data centres in particular communities - including Cockenzie, East Lothian, and Larbert, Falkirk. Kim Cairns, a campaigner for 'Say No To Chapelcross AI Data Centre', told BBC Scotland News her community was worried about noise, road closures and access problems during the construction phase.

Kim said: "It's not going to enrich anybody's lives. For Chapelcross it's the sheer size of it, the amount of electricity it's going to need.