What changed
OpenAI announced it will stop using non-disclosure agreements with local officials and public authorities on its data center projects. Instead, the company says it will allow only narrow protections covering legitimate security information, trade secrets, and proprietary or competitively sensitive information.
Why now
The announcement came right after US midterm elections in which voters voiced strong opposition to data center expansion. Data center projects have drawn scrutiny for relying on NDAs to keep discussions between developers and local officials out of public view.
A broader shift
According to the source, Amazon made a similar move in October, suggesting that growing pressure over the local impact of data centers is pushing the industry toward policy changes.
