A federal judge has declared that the U.S. Department of Defense unlawfully targeted AI company Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk, a decision described as “illegal and baseless.”
The ruling followed Anthropic’s lawsuit that the defense secretary Pete Hegseth exceeded his authority after the agency refused to allow the company’s AI models for surveillance or autonomous weapons.
The judge stressed that citing national security does not grant unlimited power to punish critics, highlighting concerns about First Amendment retaliation.
Anthropic welcomed the ruling, noting that its business and voice were harmed by the government’s actions and that the company aims to collaborate with the government on AI for national security.
With no prior instance, the designation marked the first time an American firm has been publicly flagged as a supply‑chain risk by the defense sector.
The case raises questions about where the line lies between corporate freedom and government oversight over advanced technology.
