Amazon Investigates Engineers Who Testified Against AI Data Center Expansion

Amazon is investigating three engineers who testified before the Seattle City Council in support of a moratorium on large-scale AI data center construction, drawing a civil rights complaint and renewed scrutiny of how the company handles employee political speech.

Earlier this month, five Amazon employees appeared at Seattle City Council hearings where officials sought public input on a proposed one-year pause on new data center construction. The council passed the moratorium unanimously on June 9, giving the city time to develop regulatory frameworks for the projects.

During their testimony, the employees criticized what they described as an "all-costs-justified AI build out" by major technology companies and called for stronger government oversight of data centers.

Following those hearings, three of the workers were individually summoned to Zoom meetings with a human resources representative who said he was investigating a concern raised about their testimony, according to a complaint filed Friday with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. The employees were told the investigation could result in disciplinary action. One staffer was specifically informed that potential discipline could range up to termination.

The complaint, filed by lawyers representing the employees, accuses Amazon of violating a Seattle ordinance that prohibits companies from discriminating against workers on the basis of political ideology, race, religion, and age, among other protected categories.

"They also learned that Amazon was monitoring their political advocacy before the Seattle City Council and was seeking to identify additional employees who had engaged in political activities," the complaint states.

Amazon spokesperson Margaret Callahan said in a statement that the company does not permit employees to speak as representatives of Amazon without following certain procedures. After examining how the employees represented themselves and how their comments were received, the company concluded they may have been speaking "in their capacity as Amazonians and not as private citizens," Callahan said.

"We believe it's important to apply our policies consistently so, just as we would with anyone else, we're investigating whether there was a violation of our policies and may or may not take action based on what we find," Callahan said in a statement to CNBC. Callahan disputed that Amazon has plans to terminate the employees or told staffers they were at risk of termination, and added that the company does not tolerate retaliatory behavior.

The workers are members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an organization of current and former employees that has pressed the company on its environmental record, workforce policies, and AI expansion. Two of the group's founders were fired in 2020 after criticizing the company publicly; Amazon settled with those employees in 2021 following a complaint with federal labor regulators.

The dispute comes as Amazon has committed to spend up to $200 billion this year on capital expenditures, largely directed toward AI infrastructure, while simultaneously laying off 30,000 corporate employees since October as CEO Andy Jassy works to restructure the company.

Darius Irani, an Amazon employee of more than five years, said he does not regret his testimony. "All I did was testify because I believe it's critical that the government regulates data centers and AI," Irani said. "Workers need to be involved in these conversations."

The case arrives amid broad public skepticism of AI infrastructure buildout. A recent Gallup poll found that seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local communities, with most respondents citing environmental impact and quality-of-life concerns.

The outcome of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights complaint and Amazon's internal investigation will likely shape how other large technology employers navigate employee political speech as data center opposition continues to mount across the country.

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