Trump Administration Defends Anthropic Blacklisting in US Court Proceedings

US Government Filing Supports Blacklisting of AI Company Anthropic

The US Department of Defense has submitted a court filing in support of its decision to blacklist AI company Anthropic. The filing asserts that the administration’s action was justified and lawful. In March 2023, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic as a national security supply chain risk due to the company’s refusal to remove guardrails on its technology.

The Trump administration claims that Anthropic’s lawsuit challenging the decision is unlikely to succeed. The filing states that the dispute stems from contract negotiations and national security concerns, not retaliation. According to the filing, no one has purported to restrict Anthropic’s expressive activity.

Anthropic has filed a lawsuit in California federal court seeking to block the Pentagon’s decision while the case plays out. Some legal experts have expressed skepticism about the company’s chances of success. In response to the government’s filing, Anthropic stated that it is reviewing the document and will continue to protect its national security interests through judicial review.

The designation has significant implications for Anthropic, which could damage its reputation and result in billions of dollars in losses this year. The company had previously disputed claims made by Trump and Hegseth, stating that AI is not yet safe enough to be used in autonomous weapons. Anthropic also opposes domestic surveillance as a matter of principle.

The Pentagon has designated Anthropic under two separate laws, with the second designation potentially expanding the order to the entire government. Anthropic is challenging this move in a separate lawsuit in a Washington, DC, appeals court.

Source: Al Jazeera