Rights groups seek transparency on Google data centre MoU

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) and the United Forum for RTI Campaign (UFRTI) have urged the Andhra Pradesh government to reveal the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Google for proposed data centres in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts.

In a statement issued on Saturday, HRF A.P.–Telangana Coordination Committee member V.S. Krishna and UFRTI co-convener Chakradhar Buddha said large data centres put heavy pressure on power and water resources, which are already under strain in the State.

They said civil society groups, researchers, and the public cannot examine whether environmental protections, social impact safeguards, privacy norms, and oversight systems are included in the MoU without access to it.

“Decisions made in the public interest must be transparent. The government should upload all MoU documents on an official platform for scrutiny,” they demanded.

The organisations pointed out that although the government has highlighted the MoU as a major digital investment for the State, it has kept its contents confidential. This, they argued, contradicts the basic principles of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

They noted that citizens have a right to know what safeguards the agreement contains, especially given its impact on land, water, energy, data governance, and privacy.

Referring to the reported USD 15 billion Google investment, they said signing such a deal in secrecy erodes public trust and weakens democratic oversight. A recent RTI request seeking access to the MoU was rejected by the government on grounds of confidentiality, a move they said violates both the spirit and mandate of the RTI Act.