Thousands turn out in Edinburgh to protest against AI data centres

Thousands of people marched down Edinburgh's Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament to protest against large-scale AI data centres, part of a wave of protests across Europe. Demonstrators carried slogans such as "AI data centres threaten humanity" and some opposed specific planned sites in Cockenzie, Larbert and Chapelcross, the last of which would have a 1,000MW capacity compared with Scotland's current largest at 12MW in Airdrie. The Scottish government said it will publish new planning guidance on data centres before the end of the year and is developing a strategy to maximise "public benefit".