Microsoft has announced changes to its use of confidentiality agreements in relation to data center installations, stating it will no longer require communities to sign such agreements. This decision was first made public on March 18 and was reaffirmed during a hearing on June 4 before a mixed parliamentary commission in Ohio focused on data center development. Microsoft's public affairs manager, Daniel Brown, emphasized the company's commitment to transparency and open dialogue to foster trust with local communities. However, the company will continue to use confidentiality agreements for private land acquisition deals and will only stop using them as a default in community exchanges. Other major tech companies present at the hearing, including Amazon, Google, and Meta, did not make similar commitments. Representatives from these firms described confidentiality agreements as essential tools for economic development. Google's market development and policy manager, Liz Schwab, acknowledged the need for the sector to improve its engagement with local residents. Microsoft’s commitment also extends to property tax exemptions for its new sites, which the company has decided to abandon. In contrast, Amazon, Google, and Meta did not commit to either of these points. In Louisiana, a $10 billion data center project in West Feliciana parish has moved forward without requiring signed confidentiality agreements. Kenny Havard, who leads the parish's executive, stated that he does not believe non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are necessary unless they are used to share proprietary information. The community has made all related documents available on its website, allowing residents to review and discuss them. In Arizona, the county of Pima's supervisors' council voted to automatically dissolve confidentiality agreements ninety days before any county body vote. At the state level, Pennsylvania's governor, Josh Shapiro, issued an executive order requiring data center projects to comply with a set of principles called GRID, which prohibits the use of confidentiality agreements for future filings. During a professional conference organized by Bisnow, David Tolson, president of developer DBT Data, shared how he secured approval for a project in a commune that had previously rejected five others by committing to transparency and presenting detailed plans to residents before any permit application. Supporters of confidentiality agreements argue that they are necessary for initial discussions and that the public should only be informed when the project is before elected officials. However, some in the sector oppose such agreements, with Dan Golding of the Appleby Strategy Group stating that requiring elected officials to sign them undermines the democratic process. While transparency can help build trust, it does not resolve issues such as water consumption, electricity needs, or land use. In West Feliciana, residents are aware of the terms of the agreement but remain concerned about its effects. In Tucson, Arizona, the revelation of Project Blue led to public opposition and the rejection of the project by the city council, although the project may be relocated to less organized or more economically fragile areas. Microsoft remains the only major operator to have partially renounced confidentiality agreements, according to Thaddeus Claggett, a state representative from Newark, Ohio.