Amazon ends secret data center pacts and pledges $1 billion to host towns

Amazon will no longer require nondisclosure agreements (NDA) with government agencies involved in its data center projects and will adhere to its new Data Center Commitment program designed to address mounting opposition to AI infrastructure, it disclosed on Friday in a blog post. The company also unveiled plans to invest more than $1 billion over five years in communities hosting its facilities. The announcements come as more than 100 data center moratoriums are being considered across the U.S., so AWS wants to make data centers more attractive to locals.

Amazon's decision to no longer require NDAs from government officials working with it is part of the company's newly announced Data Center Commitment program aimed at making data center building more transparent and somewhat less unpleasant to people living nearby. Among other things, the company vows to hold community open houses, disclose information about projects as early as possible, and listen to local concerns as development proceeds. …