Amazon Web Services (AWS) has stopped using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in its dealings with government agencies for new data centre approvals. This change was announced by AWS CEO Matt Garman in a blog post on 3 October 2026.
Garman's statement is part of an effort to counter public suspicion surrounding data centres. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has previously highlighted transparency as a primary concern, noting a pattern where projects are announced after permits are secured and local officials sign NDAs before communities are aware.
The move by AWS comes as more than 100 data centre moratoriums are reportedly being considered across the United States, with New York having already implemented a one-year moratorium on permits for large data centres.
Garman also addressed several criticisms, including claims that data centres consume too much water, increase electricity costs, emit significant pollution, and offer no community benefits. He stated that "direct data center water consumption" accounts for 0.5% of all industrial water usage in the US. Regarding pollution, Garman said data centre generators are idle 99.9% of the time, running approximately 10 hours annually for maintenance.
He also noted that Amazon has contributed over $1 billion to US communities with a significant data centre presence in the last three years.