A federal judge has granted Anthropic an injunction against the Trump administration’s designation of the company as a “supply chain risk.”
This ruling mandates the rescission of the security risk designation and prevents federal agencies from severing ties with the artificial intelligence firm, potentially impacting government contracts and the company’s operational standing.
Judge Rita F. Lin of the Northern District of California issued the order on Thursday, stating the government’s actions appeared to “cripple Anthropic” and had violated the company’s free speech protections, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The dispute originated last month when Anthropic sought to impose restrictions on the government’s use of its AI software, including prohibiting its application in autonomous weapons systems or mass surveillance.
The White House designated Anthropic a supply chain risk and ordered federal agencies to disengage, prompting Anthropic to file a lawsuit.
The administration characterized Anthropic as a “radical-left, woke company” that jeopardizes national security. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei described the Defense Department’s actions as “retaliatory and punitive.”
Following the ruling, Anthropic stated to TechCrunch it was “grateful to the court for moving swiftly, and pleased they agree Anthropic is likely to succeed on the merits.” The company added its focus remains on “working productively with the government to ensure all Americans benefit from safe, reliable AI.”
