Anthropic sues US over blacklisting; White House calls firm “radical left, woke”

In a significant legal move, Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to overturn a controversial government decision that blacklisted its technology. The company asserts that it was exercising its First Amendment rights by refusing to allow its Claude AI models to be employed in autonomous warfare and mass surveillance of American citizens, claiming the blacklist was a retaliatory measure. According to Anthropic, when it maintained its stance that Claude could not be safely utilized for lethal warfare or mass surveillance, the President instructed all federal agencies to ‘IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology.’ This directive, they argue, was in stark contrast to previous agreements reached with the Department of War regarding the use of their technology. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, highlights how shortly after the President’s directive, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth categorized Anthropic as a ‘Supply-Chain Risk to National Security.’ This designation barred any contractors or partners of the U.S. military from engaging in commercial activities with Anthropic. Anthropic contends that the First Amendment protects its right to express its opinions on the limitations of its AI services and the critical issues surrounding AI safety. Furthermore, they argue that the procedure used to label them as a supply chain risk did not adhere to the legislative requirements set by Congress. The lawsuit claims that such a designation should only be applied to protect against potential sabotage by adversaries against national security systems. Anthropic maintains that the President’s directive and the subsequent actions taken by various officials exceed the authority granted to the Executive branch by Congress, violating the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.