You're missing the point. There are a myriad of reasons for the non-disclosure - some you agree with and some you don't. The point is that lawyers include it

You're missing the point. There are a myriad of reasons for the non-disclosure - some you agree with and some you don't. The point is that lawyers include it as a standard in nearly all kinds of agreements. ...it's not even limited to settlements. Regular contracts often have them. It's just normal business practice. It's done because, as you know, anything you say, no matter how innocent, can be used against you in a court of law - whether misconstrued or not. Thus lawyers almost always include a non-disclosure clause. This, on its own, should not lead you to believe the company is covering anything up. ...and to answer your last question, no, non-disclosure agreements do not prevent you from speaking to regulatory authorities.