Anthropic sues US government after blacklisting over national security concerns

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against the US government after being placed on a national security blacklist, escalating tensions between the technology sector and the Trump administration over the use of AI in defence and surveillance.

The company has challenged the decision in court, arguing that the government’s action violated constitutional protections and unfairly targeted the firm without proper legal process.

According to the lawsuit, the designation was imposed without prior notice and prevented Anthropic from participating in government projects and partnerships.

Anthropic’s chief financial officer Krishna Rao said in court filings that the controversy had immediate financial consequences for the company.

Rao stated that after social media posts by US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a major investor informed the company that it would withdraw support, raising concerns about the firm’s financial stability.

The dispute reportedly stems from disagreements over the potential use of Anthropic’s AI technology by the US military. The company had expressed concerns about deploying its AI systems for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, which created friction with defence officials.

Anthropic argues that the government’s decision to label it a “supply chain risk” was retaliatory and unlawful. The designation, typically applied to foreign technology companies considered security threats, could prevent government contractors from working with the AI startup.

The lawsuit highlights growing tensions between Silicon Valley companies and policymakers over how advanced AI systems should be used, regulated and integrated into military operations.