Erin Brockovich blasts secret data center planning

data centers – Environmental activist Erin Brockovich says residents are furious about data center projects that, in their view, are pushed through with secrecy, nondisclosure agreements, and limited public input—especially at the proposal stage. Her comments land as Utah un

In communities where big tech is moving to build data centers to power artificial intelligence, the fight is no longer just about power use or paperwork—it’s about who gets to be in the room.

Erin Brockovich. the environmental activist made famous by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film about her work. has now joined the opposition. Speaking on a recent episode of “The Jim Acosta Show. ” Brockovich said residents are angry because they feel excluded from decisions being made in their own backyards. Her description was blunt: projects are being “shoved down their throat in secrecy.”.

Brockovich said residents often first learn about the projects only when they reach the proposal stage. Even then, she said local officials are limited in what they can say because of nondisclosure agreements. In other cases. she added. projects are presented as warehouses rather than data centers—an approach that leaves communities feeling they’re being kept in the dark when the stakes are still being defined.

“There’s a lot of secrecy and NDAs at a very proposal stage,” Brockovich said.

That secrecy, she argued, is part of why anger is growing. Brockovich said residents aren’t objecting simply because they might have to hear difficult information; they object to being left out of the process.

“I’ve worked in communities for 30 years,” Brockovich said. “They handle the truth.”

The backlash she described has been building alongside high-profile data center proposals across the country. One example is a massive project in Utah backed by “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary. which has sparked statewide opposition. In response, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox unveiled a new “framework” for data center development on Friday.

Cox wrote in an X post that “Utahns deserve confidence that water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life will be protected.” He said the framework is meant to ensure data center development “aligns with Utah’s long-term interests and reflects Utah values.”

Pressure is also showing up inside the companies pushing the buildout. Microsoft, which once relied on NDAs in the early stages of data center development, said earlier this year it would stop requesting them after local opposition.

Microsoft said: “We’ve made the decision that being transparent with the communities where we operate or seek to operate is paramount.” The company added that the change is “about strengthening public trust, enabling better dialogue, and ensuring that our growth is matched by meaningful engagement.”

Microsoft has also adopted what it calls its “Community-First AI Infrastructure Plan.” The plan, as described by the company, includes promises to pay for its own electricity, minimize water usage, and create local jobs, among other things.

Across those developments—the Utah framework. Microsoft’s decision to stop requesting NDAs. and Brockovich’s public warning about proposal-stage secrecy—one issue keeps surfacing in a way communities can feel immediately: whether information about major infrastructure is shared early enough. clearly enough. and with enough room for residents to respond.

Erin Brockovich data centers nondisclosure agreements NDAs AI infrastructure Microsoft Utah framework Spencer Cox Kevin O'Leary local communities water usage electricity costs