Hundreds gather outside Holyrood to call for pause on Scotland’s datacentre boom

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-03T17:25:50.844Z • Permanent link

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, calling for a pause on the country's datacentre boom. Kat Jones, a 52-year-old environmental activist, is leading the charge against the rapid expansion of datacentres in Scotland. Jones, who has been dubbed Scotland's Erin Brockovich, has been investigating the environmental and health impacts of the datacentre industry. Her activism has gained significant attention, and she has become a vocal critic of the Scottish government's handling of the issue.

The datacentre industry in Scotland has been growing rapidly in recent years, with at least 20 projects proposed, including one in Fife billed as the second-largest in the world. The largest datacentre in Scotland is operated by Equinix, a US-based company, and it is located in the town of Livingston. The datacentre is said to be one of the most energy-intensive in the world, and its presence has raised concerns about the environmental impact of the industry.

The Scottish government has been criticized for its lack of transparency and regulation of the datacentre industry. The industry is self-regulating, and there are few rules in place to govern its growth. The Scottish government has promised to introduce new regulations, but so far, few details have been revealed. Jones and her supporters are demanding that the government take action to address the environmental and health impacts of the datacentre industry.

The rapid expansion of the datacentre industry in Scotland has significant implications for the country's AI and tech ecosystem. Companies such as IBM and Microsoft are investing heavily in Scotland's datacentre infrastructure, and the industry is expected to create thousands of jobs in the coming years. However, the environmental and health impacts of the industry are a major concern for many experts. The datacentre industry is one of the largest consumers of energy in Scotland, and its carbon footprint is significant.

The datacentre industry is also having a significant impact on local communities. Many of the datacentres are being built in rural areas, where there is limited access to public transportation and other amenities. The construction of these datacentres is often accompanied by the displacement of local residents, who are forced to relocate due to the influx of workers and the increased traffic. This has led to concerns about the social and economic impacts of the industry on local communities.

The Scottish government's handling of the datacentre industry has also raised concerns about the country's commitment to sustainability. The government has promised to reduce Scotland's carbon emissions to net-zero by 2045, but the datacentre industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The government's lack of regulation and transparency has led to concerns that the industry is being allowed to grow unchecked, which undermines the country's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.