OpenAI announced new community commitments for its data center projects, explicitly stating it will no longer employ non-disclosure agreements when dealing with public officials. The policy shift follows voter backlash against data-center expansion observed in recent midterm elections. By removing NDAs, OpenAI aims to increase transparency in its interactions with local governments.
Under the revised approach, OpenAI will retain limited confidentiality only for information it deems essential to security, trade secrets, or competitively sensitive data. The company describes these “narrow protections” as the sole permissible use of NDAs. This mirrors a similar move by Amazon in October, when the retailer announced it would cease using NDAs with government agencies on its own data-center projects.
Financial responsibilities are also part of the new framework. OpenAI commits to covering the full cost of the electricity consumed by its facilities and to funding the supporting infrastructure required for operation. By internalizing these expenses, the firm signals an intent to lessen the fiscal impact on host municipalities.
The firm will make its employment impact publicly visible. OpenAI plans to publish projected job numbers for each compute campus and to provide ongoing reports on hiring outcomes. This transparency is intended to give local communities clearer expectations about the economic benefits associated with the data-center buildout.
Each future compute campus,OpenAI’s term for its data-center sites,will be bound by a “local compact.” The compact will codify the outlined commitments and be tailored to reflect the priorities identified by the surrounding community. The approach seeks to align the company’s expansion with local policy goals and stakeholder concerns.
The announcement was reported by The Verge’s senior technology reporter Jay Peters on November 6, 2026. The policy change arrives amid broader industry scrutiny of data-center projects that have historically used NDAs to conceal negotiations with local officials. OpenAI’s stance may influence how other AI infrastructure developers engage with public authorities moving forward.