Ankara: A US federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration acted illegally when it designated AI company Anthropic a security risk and barred the company from working with the US government, The New York Times reported. Judge Rita Lin of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said the government had unlawfully retaliated against Anthropic 'for constitutionally protected expressive activities' after the company spoke publicly about how its technology should be used.
According to Anadolu Agency, Judge Lin stated that the government's use of national security as a justification was unfounded, stating, 'The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics,' in a detailed 59-page ruling. Anthropic expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, highlighting its unlawful nature and its commitment to collaborating constructively with the government to utilize AI for national security benefits.
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, as noted in the report. This ruling addresses one of two lawsuits Anthropic filed in March contesting the administration's designation. The second lawsuit, currently in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, is still pending. The administration may choose to appeal Lin's ruling or await the outcome of the second case before deciding on further actions.
The controversy originated from a disagreement between Anthropic and the Pentagon over a $200 million contract for AI technology in classified systems. Anthropic had asserted that its technology should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, while the Pentagon maintained that policy decisions rest with the US government. Following the breakdown of negotiations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a 'supply chain risk,' effectively barring military contractors and suppliers from engaging with the company.
Anthropic's legal actions, initiated on March 9, argued that the statutes related to supply-chain-risk designations were narrowly defined and not applicable to US companies. The company also contended that the designation infringed on its First Amendment rights by penalizing it for its public stance. Judge Lin, prior to her ruling, expressed concerns over the Pentagon's justification for barring Anthropic, finding the lack of evidence for claims against the company troubling.