Data centers' NDAs would be banned under new bill
Barrett said residents should learn about potential effects on their land, water and electricity costs before decisions are made.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYNewsweek is an established national news publisher with an identified reporter and editorial staff. The article discloses that AI assisted in producing it, though it provides limited information here about the degree of that assistance.
- Source type — Established national news publisher.
- Author attribution — A reporter is named.
- Transparency — The story discloses the use of an AI assistant.
The article explains the bill’s proposed provisions and gives the lawmakers’ rationale alongside the argument that NDAs protect commercially sensitive information. Much of its account relies on the sponsors’ press release and statements; it includes no direct response from data center companies, and the reporter was still awaiting comment from Landsman.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The story explains both the proponents’ concerns about public access and the rationale for confidentiality during site selection. However, it relies heavily on sponsors’ statements and does not include direct comments from affected companies or local officials.
- Source diversity — Includes lawmakers and an advocacy-group endorsement, but few independent or opposing voices.
- Counterarguments presented — Notes that supporters of NDAs cite protection of commercially sensitive information.
- Omitted context — No direct response from data center companies is included.
The article reports the bill and its stated aims in largely neutral language. It includes both the lawmakers’ transparency arguments and the case for confidentiality during site selection.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive wording without clear partisan cues.
- Source selection — Includes lawmakers’ views and a general argument from NDA supporters.
- Framing — Frames the story around the proposed legislation and the transparency debate.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the No Secrets for Data Centers Act, which would restrict nondisclosure agreements that keep officials from discussing proposed data center projects with the public. The bill would also restrict certain government subsidies tied to confidentiality.
Representatives Greg Landsman, Tom Barrett and Jamie Raskin introduced the No Secrets for Data Centers Act. According to the lawmakers’ press release, it would void some NDAs signed by government officials and prevent companies from receiving government subsidies tied to keeping project details confidential, with an exception for legitimate trade secrets. Landsman said the bill would require transparency, while Barrett and Raskin said residents should know how projects could affect their communities.
Community verdict
8 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Co-introducer of the data center transparency bill
Landsman's version of this story ↗Co-introducer of the bill
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