Amazon Engineers Face Internal Probes After Opposing AI Data Center Expansion

As of June 23, three Amazon engineers report facing internal investigations after publicly criticizing the company’s AI data center expansion at Seattle City Council hearings. The controversy began June 3 when the engineers testified in favor of stricter regulation, leading the council to unanimously approve a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers on June 9. An employee advocacy group filed a civil rights complaint on June 18 alleging political discrimination and intimidation, with one worker reportedly warned of possible termination. Amazon denies retaliation and maintains it is only reviewing internal procedures. The dispute coincides with Amazon’s planned $200 billion AI-related capital spending this year and 30,000 corporate layoffs since October.