Amazon Announces It Will No Longer Use NDAs in Data Center Negotiations
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On October 10, 2026, TechCrunch reported that Amazon announced it will no longer use NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following Microsoft's similar move earlier in 2026. The report said secrecy had fueled community opposition to AI infrastructure construction, with hundreds of proposals or bills to halt projects emerging from New York to San Francisco; Amazon's move is seen as an attempt to rebuild trust with local governments and communities. The same report also mentioned a batch of startups betting that consumers will let AI agents access their email, files, and credit cards, while United Airlines, Apple, and Amazon are erecting barriers against external agents. On October 12, the TechCrunch podcast further reported that Amazon's announcement appeared in a blog post arguing that data centers benefit communities, and discussed whether dropping NDAs can defuse opposition to data centers.
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- TechCrunch · AICan the AI industry persuade data center opponents by getting rid of NDAs?
Amazon, following Microsoft's earlier move, announced it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in negotiations with local governments over data centers, in a statement made in a blog post arguing that data centers benefit communities.
- TechCrunch · AIAmazon and others are done keeping data center deals secret. Is it enough to build trust?
Amazon says it will no longer use NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move by Microsoft earlier this year. The secrecy fueled community backlash against AI infrastructure, with hundreds of pause proposals or laws emerging from New York to San Francisco. TechCrunch’s Equity podcast also discusses why personal AI startups treat trust as the real product.
- TechCrunch · AIAmazon drops data center NDAs, and AI agents want your credit card
Amazon says it will no longer use NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move by Microsoft earlier this year. Meanwhile, a wave of startups is betting consumers will let AI agents access their email, files and credit cards, while United, Apple and Amazon are putting up barriers to external agents.
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