Judge Rules Trump Administration's Anthropic Blacklisting Illegal
A federal judge ruled the Trump administration illegally labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk.
"Big win for Anthropic! The government can't just blacklist companies for speaking up. Freedom of speech, even for AI makers, is still a thing."
A federal judge in California ruled on Thursday evening that the Trump administration’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk was illegal. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s labeling of Anthropic as a national security risk signified “unlawful retaliation” in violation of the First Amendment, and was “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling also found that Anthropic was denied due process under the Fifth Amendment.
Earlier this year, Hegseth and President Donald Trump labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk, ordering federal agencies to cease working with the company. This dispute arose from Anthropic's stance on safety guardrails concerning the use of its models for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. The Pentagon denied these intentions, alleging Anthropic sought to control military use of purchased models. Judge Lin highlighted the government’s “words and deeds” confirmed a desire to make a public example of Anthropic for criticizing the government.
Lin pointed out inconsistencies, such as Hegseth’s proposition to apply the Defense Production Act to Anthropic, which would imply the company was essential to national security. The Department of Defense also continued pursuing a contract with Anthropic and collaborated on its Mythos model for cybersecurity. The ruling emphasized that Anthropic “undisputedly lacks” backdoor access to its technology once transferred to the DOD, concluding that the broad measures imposed were “illegal and baseless.” An Anthropic spokesperson welcomed the ruling.
This ruling sets a precedent regarding government actions against AI companies, particularly concerning national security designations and due process. It underscores the importance of clear legal frameworks for technology partnerships between private companies and government entities, impacting future collaborations and regulatory approaches.
Relevant tools
Find the right AI tool for your business
Chat with Insta and get matched to the right tool in seconds.
Try Insta Tool Finder →