OpenAI announced in November 2026 that it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements with public officials in connection with its data center projects, part of a broader set of commitments to the communities where it operates.
The announcement followed midterm elections in which voters broadly opposed data center expansion. Many data center projects have drawn criticism for using NDAs to shield discussions between developers and local officials from public scrutiny. OpenAI said it will now allow “only narrow protections covering legitimate security information, trade secrets, or proprietary or competitively sensitive information.”
OpenAI is not alone in making this shift. In October, Amazon announced it would no longer use NDAs with government agencies it works with on data center projects.
Beyond the NDA policy, OpenAI outlined several additional commitments. The company says it will pay “the full cost” of the electricity it uses and the infrastructure required to support its operations. It also pledged to publish expected job creation figures and report on local hiring. Every future facility the company owns and operates — which OpenAI is now calling a “compute campus” rather than a data center — will operate under a “local compact” that reflects community priorities alongside the company’s stated commitments.
The moves suggest growing pressure on technology companies to be more transparent with local governments and residents as they expand their computing infrastructure. Whether OpenAI’s commitments will satisfy community concerns raised during the midterms remains to be seen.
Source: The Verge