Judge Says Trump Lacks Proof for Anthropic Ban in 2 DoD Lawsuits
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 30
Judge Says Trump Lacks Proof for Anthropic Ban in 2 DoD Lawsuits
2 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 30
Summary
Judge Rita Lin said Thursday the Trump administration has not shown enough evidence to justify branding Anthropic a supply chain risk and barring federal use of its AI.
Lin rejected the Pentagon’s claim that Anthropic could alter deployed models or trigger a wartime “kill switch,” saying she saw no proof the company could change a delivered model.
The dispute grew out of stalled Defense Department contract talks after Anthropic objected to uses involving mass surveillance of Americans and lethal targeting or firing decisions.
Lin also called the government’s argument that Anthropic’s public criticism justified the ban “really troubling,” warning it could invite retaliation against contractors who disagree with an administration.
The hearing covered 1 of 2 lawsuits Anthropic filed in March; Lin had already temporarily blocked the ban and is now deciding whether to make that order permanent.