Anthropic sues to block Pentagon blacklisting over AI restrictions

Anthropic has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the US Department of Defense from placing the artificial intelligence (AI) company on a national security blacklist, escalating a dispute over restrictions on how its AI technology can be used by the military.

In the complaint filed in federal court in California, Anthropic argued that the designation is unlawful and violates its constitutional rights to free speech and due process. 

The company asked a judge to overturn the decision and prevent federal agencies from enforcing it.

“These actions are unprecedented and unlawful. The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech,” Anthropic said in a statement.

The Pentagon last week issued a formal supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic, restricting the use of its technology in government systems. 

The move came after the company refused to remove safeguards preventing its AI from being used for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance.

The dispute has drawn in the Donald Trump administration, which has reportedly considered broader action against the company. 

According to reports, Trump also ordered federal agencies to stop using Claude, Anthropic’s flagship AI system.

The conflict highlights growing tensions between AI developers and governments over how advanced artificial intelligence should be deployed in national security settings.

Anthropic said the lawsuit does not rule out renewed negotiations with the US government. The Pentagon declined to comment on the litigation.