US court blocks Trump-era curbs on AI firm
Judge rules actions against Anthropic likely unconstitutional retaliation over criticism of military use of artificial intelligence
LOS ANGELES, United States (MNTV) — A U.S. federal court has blocked sweeping government restrictions imposed on artificial intelligence company Anthropic, ruling that the measures were likely unconstitutional and retaliatory.
The US District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the restrictions, delivering a sharp rebuke to the administration of Donald Trump.
Judge Rita F. Lin found that Anthropic is likely to succeed in proving the government targeted the company for publicly criticizing the military use of its AI systems. The court described the actions as “classic illegal First Amendment retaliation,” noting that the firm’s protected speech appeared to be the basis for punitive measures.
The dispute emerged after Anthropic raised concerns about the deployment of its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons and large-scale surveillance programs. The company argued its technology was not sufficiently safe for such uses and called for restrictions on its military application.
In response, the US Department of Defense imposed broad sanctions, including a federal ban on Anthropic’s technology, limits on contractors working with the company, and labeling it a “supply chain risk.”
The court ruled that these actions appeared designed to punish dissent rather than address genuine national security concerns. It also found that the company was given no prior notice or opportunity to respond, likely violating due process protections.
Judge Lin further criticized the “supply chain risk” designation as lacking evidence, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling emphasized that authorities could have simply stopped using the company’s technology instead of imposing sweeping restrictions affecting both public and private sectors.
The court concluded that Anthropic is facing “irreparable harm,” including lost business and reputational damage, while stressing that the public interest lies in protecting constitutional rights and ensuring open debate on AI safety.
The injunction temporarily suspends the measures, though the government is expected to challenge the decision through appeal.
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