Amazon drops NDAs for data center deals
Original: Amazon and others are done keeping data center deals secret. Is it enough to build trust?
Why This Matters
Data center expansion underpins AI growth; local opposition can stall billion-dollar plans.
Amazon announced it will stop using NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following Microsoft's similar move earlier in 2026, amid rising community backlash and hundreds of moratoriums nationwide.
Amazon is ending its use of non-disclosure agreements in data center negotiations with local governments — a policy shift that mirrors a move Microsoft made earlier this year. The change comes as secrecy around AI infrastructure deals has sparked significant community opposition, with hundreds of proposed or enacted moratoriums on data center construction from New York to San Francisco. The backlash reflects growing concern over water usage, energy demands, and the lack of public input in approving large-scale facilities. Whether dropping NDAs actually changes community outcomes remains an open question. TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosted by Anthony Ha, Sean O'Kane, and Rebecca Bellan, examines whether greater transparency in deal negotiations can genuinely rebuild public trust, or if it's largely a reputational maneuver. The episode also touches on a parallel trust challenge: AI agent startups racing to convince consumers to hand over access to their inboxes, files, and financial accounts — if third-party websites will cooperate at all.