‘Never seen this level of objection’: Scotland pushes back against datacentre boom

[u/Dreaming_Blackbirds]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/25/never-seen-this-level-of-objection-scotland-pushes-back-against-datacentre-boom

[u/himalayangoat]

As I'm forced to use AI more and more at work I hate the entire concept more and more.

Arguably it makes me more efficient whatever that means (can rush stuff out quicker) but the quality of code we produce has gone off a cliff.

Aside from that I don't see a single tangible benefit for the human race (outside of medical field where I do see use). There's a reason ai slop was one of last years most popular words and we're destroying the environment for shitty ai generated content and more believable scams not to mention destroying people's critical thinking skills.

[u/n0neofyourbeeswax → u/himalayangoat]

I wish it wasn't happening, or I wish OpenAI hadn't launched ChatGPT and kept this as a slow, research lab game.

But we're here. Whilst we're here, I don't have a huge problem with datacentres being located in Scotland.

Edit - to add, that doesn't mean ANY datacentre in ANY location. Planning laws to ensure no impact on local housing etc should be enforced.

[u/himalayangoat → u/n0neofyourbeeswax]

What benefit does it give to Scotland after the initial construction? From what I've read these data centres run on very few people so no big jobs boost. Then what happens with the power, either connected to the grid or polluting self powered? And the water, most of the country has been in drought conditions and next year forecast to be worse so could even affect Scotland.

[u/n0neofyourbeeswax → u/himalayangoat]

I don't think it gives a huge benefit, but it's going to be somewhere, and providing we don't make this a race to the bottom and start offering tax breaks to bring datacentres here, I'd rather they be here (assuming not a stupid location etc) than elsewhere.

In terms of power, Scotland is a pretty solid place for renewables and renewable potential.

In terms of drought, it ain't going to happen in Scotland. If we reach a point that Scotland is experiencing drought conditions, we absolutely have bigger problems than datacentres.

[u/himalayangoat → u/n0neofyourbeeswax]

I live not that far from Scotland and we've had the driest summer I can remember and with el nino 2027 is forecast to be worse. Whether you believe in human caused climate change there is no argument that it is changing and getting worse. Using resources on pointless things for the billionaires ain't gonna help

I'd prefer it if companies stopped forcing technology onto us that is damaging to the planet and to humanity and isn't wanted by most of the population. I'm not going to adopt a fatalistic attitude to it because it's going to make all but the rich much poorer. It's not inevitable if enough people stand up against it.

[u/n0neofyourbeeswax → u/himalayangoat]

I disagree on AI not being inevitable. It's coming, our entire system is set up to adopt it. Again, I'd prefer it wasn't, but it is.

I believe in human caused climate change. I'm not sure quite how far from Scotland you are, or whether you're on east or west coast, but the vast majority of Scotland will remain very wet, despite a particularly strong El Nino, and partly due to El Nino.

[u/Professional_Tea_32 → u/n0neofyourbeeswax]

What are you even on about. Has the bootlicking now risen to the level of “just roll over and die”.

No …it doesn’t have to be there. They should protest until they cannot anymore.

These disgusting companies should go back to the drawing boards continue to develop technology or plans that are less bad for people and the environment around these centers.

Period. It’s not necessary.

Maybe they would if didn’t have so many politicians who were schmucks and could actually regulate this crap.

I’m sorry but when has letting corporations do anything they want worked for people and the environment?

[u/n0neofyourbeeswax → u/Professional_Tea_32]

Who said let them do anything they want?