The American judge saw in Pentagon's behavior an attempt to punish Anthropic for their stance

Pentagon added Anthropic to the list of “dangerous” AI suppliers

In a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), AI system developer Anthropic was included in the roster of organizations that pose a threat to national security in the supply chain. The company says this was an attempt to punish it for public statements about the risks of using AI in the military.

What exactly happened
1. Pentagon assigned “threat” status

- The status is normally applied to companies whose technologies could become targets for intrusion or sabotage by an adversary.

- Anthropic received it at the end of 2023.

2. Company filed a lawsuit

- In a federal court in California, Anthropic sued, claiming that Pete Hegset (head of supply chain) exceeded his authority.

- It seeks a temporary injunction against sanctions until the litigation concludes.

3. Circuit judge’s ruling

- Judge Rita Lin promised to issue a written decision within days after the latest hearing.

Why Anthropic did not agree
- The company refused to allow the Pentagon to use its models for mass surveillance of U.S. citizens and for autonomous weapons where AI makes kill‑decisions.

- As a result of the new status, Anthropic estimates potential losses in the billions (loss of business and reputation).

- According to them, such a measure has never been applied to American companies; it was based on an obscure procurement law aimed at protecting military systems from foreign sabotage.

Legal arguments
Anthropic’s thesis: Pentagon actions violate free speech and the U.S. Constitution; the company was not given a chance to contest the status assignment. Pentagon: It is necessary to prevent the risk of a “kill switch” or interference in AI that could be critical for military operations.

Additional actions
- Anthropic filed another lawsuit in Washington over the Pentagon’s decision, which could strip it from federal contracts.

Thus, the conflict unfolded around how the government assesses AI threats and how far sanctions can go if companies voice concerns about their use in the military sphere.