Amazon stops using NDAs in data centre deals
What happened
On 10 October 2026, TechCrunch reported that Amazon said it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements when negotiating data centre deals with local governments, after Microsoft took a similar step earlier this year. The report said the previous secrecy had fuelled strong community opposition to AI infrastructure, with hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums from New York to San Francisco. Another TechCrunch report the same day, headlined "Is that enough to build trust?", discussed whether dropping NDAs would change how data centre deals are done. On 12 October 2026, TechCrunch reported further that Amazon had followed Microsoft in scrapping NDAs, with its Equity podcast calling it a first step towards fixing the industry's communication problems but unlikely to change community opposition immediately. The report also noted that data centre moratoriums passed in many places last only one or two years, while projects take years to build.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 5 d ago
Timeline
Follow the reports to see the event from each side.
- TechCrunch · AICan the AI industry persuade data center opponents by getting rid of NDAs?
On Equity, we debate the impact of data center moratoriums and whether the AI industry has a communication problem.
- TechCrunch · AIAmazon and others are done keeping data center deals secret. Is it enough to build trust?
Amazon says it will stop using NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move from Microsoft earlier this year. Secrecy has fueled community backlash against AI infrastructure, with opposition leading to hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums from New York to San Francisco.
- TechCrunch · AIAmazon drops data center NDAs, and AI agents want your credit card
Amazon says it will stop using NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move from Microsoft earlier this year. Secrecy has fueled community backlash against AI infrastructure, with opposition leading to hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums from New York to San Francisco.
Heat of this event
Current heat 3·Peak in the comparable range 9（Oct 10 03:00）·Change over 24 hours in the comparable range -49%
The trend compares only the same accounts observed without a break, so its range can be narrower than the current heat count. Move the pointer or tap the chart to see each hour; with a keyboard, use the left and right arrow keys.