DOD states Anthropic’s ‘red lines’ pose an ‘unacceptable risk to national security’

The U.S. Department of Defense has stated that Anthropic is an “unacceptable risk to national security,” responding to the AI lab’s lawsuits against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to label the company a supply chain risk. Anthropic had requested a court order to temporarily prevent the DOD from enforcing its label. The DOD’s main argument, presented in a 40-page filing, is that Anthropic might alter its technology if it believes its corporate boundaries are being overstepped. Anthropic, which signed a $200 million contract with the Pentagon, expressed concerns about its AI being used for mass surveillance or in lethal weapon decisions. The Pentagon opposed the idea of a private company setting military technology use conditions. Various organizations criticized the DOD’s actions towards Anthropic, suggesting the department could have simply ended the contract. Tech companies and legal rights groups have supported Anthropic. The company claims its First Amendment rights were infringed and that it was ideologically punished. A hearing on Anthropic’s preliminary injunction request is scheduled for next Tuesday. Anthropic did not immediately comment.