Three of the world’s largest cloud providers have started talks with environmental organizations to establish a common set of guidelines for expanding data center infrastructure. Microsoft, Google and Amazon are negotiating the details of a responsible development framework with groups including the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the League of Conservation Voters.
The discussions, which surfaced on Nov 3, have drawn criticism for excluding smaller technology firms. Some observers suggest that by negotiating without startups, the larger companies can leverage their extensive government affairs and legal resources to shape a regulatory environment that favors incumbent firms.