Scotland faces pressure over hyperscale data centre expansion

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), has warned that Scotland risks being left “fighting for the crumbs from the table” as technology companies profit from the artificial intelligence boom.

With over two dozen sites identified for development across Scotland—20 of which are already in the planning system—Foyer has called on the Scottish Government to establish a national strategy for hyperscale data centres. While campaigners are urging a moratorium on new developments, First Minister John Swinney has resisted calls for a pause, despite new requirements for environmental impact assessments on two proposed sites.

Foyer noted that while AI is a permanent fixture that could potentially enhance public services and medical procedures, the benefits depend on who owns and controls the technology and how the resulting wealth is distributed.