According to TechCrunch, Amazon has announced it will stop using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when negotiating data center deals with local governments. The move follows a similar decision by Microsoft earlier this year, as reported in a post on Microsoft’s local blog.
The shift comes as secrecy surrounding AI infrastructure projects has fueled community backlash. According to TechCrunch, opposition to data center developments has led to “hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums from New York to San Francisco.”
The announcement was discussed on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, where hosts Anthony Ha, Sean O’Kane, and Rebecca Bellan examined whether eliminating NDAs will change how data center deals are negotiated and built.
The sources did not provide specific details about when Amazon’s policy change will take effect or what prompted the company’s decision beyond the community backlash mentioned. TechCrunch noted that the transparency issue has become significant enough to warrant podcast discussion about its potential impact on future data center negotiations with local governments.