Amazon investigating engineers who criticized AI data center expansion

[highplainsdem]

Source: CNBC

A group of Amazon engineers said they’re being investigated by the company after they criticized the breakneck expansion of artificial intelligence data centers and called for stronger government regulation.

Earlier this month, five Amazon employees testified at Seattle City Council meetings where officials sought public feedback on a year-long pause on the construction of new large-scale data centers to give the city time to regulate the projects. Seattle passed the moratorium in a unanimous vote on June 9.

The employees criticized the hefty AI spending of tech companies, describing it as an “all-costs-justified AI build out.”

Following the hearings, three Amazon workers were separately invited to Zoom meetings with a human resources representative who said he was investigating a concern that was raised about their testimony, according to a complaint filed Friday with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

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Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/18/amazon-engineers-ai-data-center-opposition.html

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Amazon violated a Seattle ordinance to stop companies from discriminating against employees for their politics. According to the complaint, Amazon's been trying to find out the names of other employees who engaged in political activities.

[wcmagumba]

1. Amazon is pretty shitty to those employees...

I'm really trying to cut back on buying from them...

[pat_k]

5. I still search on Amazon, but buy direct from the seller when possible.

In the past couple months, there have been a few occasions where I've found something that is "perfect" and Amazon seems to be the only channel. I am trying hard not to, but did end up purchasing a couple things from that evil empire.

And, as hard as I try, I don't think I'll ever get my step-father to give up his prime subscription.

I think I'm making progress with my sister.

[questionseverything]

2. Brocovitch is working on this, at one recently constructed, the cattle farm

Next door hasn’t had a live birth in a year

These ai centers are ruining our ecosystems as fast as they are being built

[Karasu]

3. It blows my mind that these fascist technocrats really expected people to be OK with having their personal health,

homes, AND finances being fucked over for the sake of a completely unregulated technology.

As ruthless and amoral as they are, I would've thought they were smarter than that.

[pat_k]

4. I've heard horrible stories from a few middle management folk (two former) in Seattle.

Most of my career I've been a tech writer and trainer. I burnt out and started a dog walking business in 2021. I've gotten close to a number of my clients, particularly ones I share a background in tech with.

Anyway, one of my clients still works for Amazon. Two left in the last couple years. The stories are truly horrific.

One noted that running into employees crying in the bathroom was routine. And that she found herself reduced to tears on more than one occasion.

Absurd metrics and targets. The upper managers these clients dealt with were the sort that apparently believed that humiliating and berating middle managers was the way to get results.

It is only a tiny sample, but these people were/are from completely different areas of the company. The picture painted is of a work culture that is truly and deeply sick.