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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Obi-Wan" data-source="post: 494298" data-attributes="member: 709"><p>Yes. Major tech and data center companies frequently require local and state public officials to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) during the early planning, site selection, and negotiation stages.Why Companies Use NDAsProtect Secrets: Developers want to conceal proprietary site plans, specific power requirements, and trade secrets from competitors.Prevent Land Speculation: Keeping project locations quiet stops real estate prices from spiking before the company can purchase the needed land.Control Economic Incentive Talks: It allows companies to negotiate tax breaks, power grid allocations, and water usage rights away from public view.Controversies and Public PushbackLack of Transparency: Elected officials bound by an NDA cannot legally share details about massive energy demands, strain on local water resources, or tax subsidies with the citizens they represent.Growing Legal Pushback: Grassroots opposition and open-government lawsuits have forced some towns and states to release hidden NDAs.Policy Shifts: Due to intense public criticism, some developers like Microsoft have started pledging to phase out or limit the use of NDAs with local governments to build community trust. Lawmakers in several states have also introduced bills to ban or restrict public officials from signing them</p></blockquote><p></p>