AWS drops NDAs with government agencies on data centre projects, CEO says
Matt Garman says AWS no longer uses nondisclosure agreements with government agencies on its projects, as disputes over data centre impacts and transparency continue.
Amazon Web Services chief executive Matt Garman says the company no longer uses nondisclosure agreements with government agencies on data centre projects. He made the statement in a blog post responding to community opposition as AWS seeks approval for new facilities.
Garman argued that data centres benefit communities and disputed claims about their water use, electricity costs and pollution. He said Amazon had contributed more than $1 billion over the past three years to communities where it has a significant data centre presence; the source material does not independently verify that figure or the company’s claims about impacts.
Transparency remains a point of contention. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has said secrecy around projects is a leading complaint, citing cases where projects were announced after permits were secured and local officials had signed NDAs.
Garman said more than 100 data centre moratoriums were under consideration across the United States. New York has announced a one-year pause on permits for large data centres. The moratorium count is Garman’s estimate; the source provides no independent tally.
The debate also centres on how data centres affect water supplies, power prices and pollution. Researchers have called for independent study of energy and water use, while reporting requirements for technology companies remain absent at federal and state level, according to the source.
