The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Tuesday evening that it considers Anthropic to pose an “unacceptable risk to national security.” This declaration marks the agency's initial formal response to the artificial intelligence lab's lawsuit, which challenges Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision last month to designate the company as a supply chain risk. As part of its legal action, Anthropic had petitioned the court to temporarily halt the DOD from enforcing this classification.
Central to the DOD’s argument, detailed in a 40-page filing submitted to a California federal court, is the apprehension that Anthropic could “attempt to disable its technology or preemptively alter the behavior of its model” either preceding or during “warfighting operations.” This concern arises should the company perceive that its "corporate ‘red lines’ are being crossed.”
Last summer, Anthropic secured a $200 million contract with the Pentagon, aimed at integrating its technology into classified systems. However, subsequent negotiations regarding contract terms revealed Anthropic's stipulations: it opposed the use of its AI systems for mass surveillance of Americans and stated the technology was not yet suitable for targeting or firing decisions involving lethal weapons. The Pentagon, conversely, contended that a private entity should not dictate the military's utilization of technology.
This stance by the DOD has drawn criticism from numerous organizations, which suggest the department could have simply terminated its contract with Anthropic. A coalition of tech companies and their employees, including personnel from OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, alongside various legal rights groups, have submitted amicus briefs expressing their support for Anthropic.
In its formal complaint, Anthropic has accused the Department of Defense of infringing upon its First Amendment rights and penalizing the company based on ideological considerations.
A pivotal hearing concerning Anthropic’s request for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Anthropic did not provide an immediate response when approached for comment.
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