Amazon investigating engineers who criticized AI data center expansion

People pass by The Spheres in downtown Seattle, Washington, on June 25, 2025.

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.

The employees were informed that the investigation could lead to disciplinary action, the complaint states, while one staffer was told that the potential discipline could range up to termination.

Amazon's questioning made the staffers feel "intimidated and uncertain in their future employment," according to the complaint, which was filed by lawyers representing the employees.

"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 said.

The complaint accuses Amazon of violating a Seattle ordinance that prohibits companies from discriminating against employees for their political ideology, race, religion and age, among other things.

Amazon previously told CNBC that the company respects its colleagues' right to voice their opinions.

Amazon spokesperson Margaret Callahan said in a statement that the company doesn't permit employees to speak as representatives of Amazon without following certain procedures.