Key facts
- The march down Edinburgh's Royal Mile is set for Saturday, November 14, backed by 76 organisations.
- Stop Dirty Data Centres organisers plan more than 70 demonstrations across 15 countries in November.
- Charities want the Scottish Government to consult publicly on AI data centre plans before approving them.
- The Scottish Government previously signalled it did not plan a public consultation on new data centre guidance.
- At least 23 proposals for large AI data centres have been submitted by big tech developers in Scotland, per the report.
More than 70 organisations have backed a march down Edinburgh's Royal Mile on November 14 against AI data centres, part of a Europe-wide wave of protests called Stop Dirty Data Centres. Organisers plan more than 70 demonstrations in 15 countries in November, according to the report.
The coalition includes Friends of the Earth Scotland, Action to Protect Rural Scotland and numerous local campaign groups, the report said. Charities are demanding that the Scottish Government publicly consult on plans for AI data centres before deciding whether to approve them, in what they call a national conversation.
The Scottish Government previously signalled that it did not plan to hold a public consultation on new guidance for data centres. At least 23 proposals for large AI data centres have been submitted by big tech developers in Scotland, with many grassroots community campaigns formed in response, the report said.
Kim Pratt of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: "We need a public conversation about the need for AI and monster data centres." Claire Robertson of Edinburgh Trades Union Council said the infrastructure "return virtually no secure, permanent, or unionised jobs for the local communities forced to host them."