Amazon is abandoning its practice of using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for data center projects, a move that signals a shift in how the tech giant interacts with local communities. The announcement was made by CEO Matt Garman, who acknowledged that the use of secret agreements with county officials had contributed to significant community backlash.
Garman warned that this friction could result in widespread data center “moratoriums” across the United States as municipalities seek to regain control over land-use decisions. By dropping the NDAs, Amazon aims to increase transparency in its negotiations with local governments and mitigate the opposition that has recently threatened the rollout of new facilities.
Finally, a sensible shift. Secrecy only breeds suspicion and delays infrastructure projects unnecessarily.
Does dropping NDAs actually change anything, or is this just cosmetic PR to stop the moratoriums?
Transparency is long overdue. Locals should have known what was being built in their backyards all along.