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Update What changed

The appeals court’s ruling adds a legal reason to the Pentagon’s decision to blacklist Anthropic: CNBC reports that judges found Claude’s integration with Department of Defense systems was “a statutorily covered national-security risk”.

That is more specific than the earlier bare result. The court has not merely left the designation standing, according to the report, but has accepted the government’s characterisation of the way Anthropic’s AI system is integrated into defence systems as falling within the relevant statute.

The decision keeps the restriction on Anthropic in place and sharpens the stakes for the company’s government business. CNBC’s available account does not provide the court’s full reasoning, the vote, any remedy or whether Anthropic plans a further appeal, so those details remain the next pieces of the legal puzzle.

Sources and evidence

• A federal appeals court upholds DOD's Anthropic blacklisting, finding Claude's integration with DOD systems is "a statutorily covered national-security risk" (Ashley Capoot/CNBC): CNBC reports that a federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic and found that Claude’s integration with Department of Defense systems is a statutorily covered national-security risk.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

A 2-1 ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, adding legal detail to the government’s restrictions on the AI company.

The majority rejected Anthropic’s First Amendment and statutory challenges, according to The Wall Street Journal. It found that the Department of Defense had sufficient support to conclude that integrating Claude into military information systems posed a national-security risk, and that the department acted within its authority under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act.

Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao formed the majority, while Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson dissented. Anthropic said it disagrees with the ruling and is considering its next steps.

Sources and evidence

• U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Pentagon Labeling Anthropic a Security Risk: The DC Circuit upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk in a 2-1 decision, rejecting the company’s First Amendment and statutory challenges and finding sufficient support for the Pentagon’s national-security-risk conclusion about Claude’s integration into military information systems.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk in a 2-1 decision, according to CNBC. The ruling means the US military cannot use Anthropic’s models and defence contractors cannot use them in work for the agency.

The court’s decision will not take immediate effect, giving Anthropic time to seek a rehearing before the same panel or an en banc rehearing by the full DC Circuit. The company could also ask the US Supreme Court to take the case. Anthropic said it disagrees with the decision and is considering further review.

The case is one of two legal challenges arising from the Pentagon’s designation. CNBC reports that a San Francisco federal judge previously found a parallel designation unlawful, while the DC Circuit upheld the separate designation before it.

Sources and evidence

• U.S. appeals court upholds Pentagon designation of Anthropic as supply chain risk - CNBC: CNBC reports that the DC Circuit upheld one Pentagon designation against Anthropic, keeping restrictions on military and defence-contractor use of its models in place while further legal review remains possible.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

A US appeals court has upheld the Pentagon’s decision to exclude Anthropic from its supply chain, leaving the restriction in effect while the company considers further legal review. The ruling follows Anthropic’s refusal to remove safeguards on Claude’s use for fully autonomous lethal weapons and mass domestic surveillance, according to AFP’s report carried by France 24.

The designation, formally made in March, cancelled Anthropic’s military contracts and barred Pentagon contractors from using its technology. The appeals court’s decision creates a legal clash with a separate ruling by a federal court in California, which found a broader government ban against Anthropic unlawful.

Anthropic said it “respectfully disagree[s]” with the decision and is considering all options, including further review.

Sources and evidence

• US court refuses to overturn Pentagon ban on Anthropic - France 24: The US appeals court upheld the Pentagon’s supply-chain designation against Anthropic. The designation remains in effect, blocks Pentagon military and contractor use of Claude, and is being challenged by Anthropic, which says it is considering further review.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

The latest account adds context to the 2-1 appeals-court ruling keeping the Pentagon’s supply-chain-risk designation against Anthropic in place. Fast Company says the dispute grew from Anthropic’s refusal to allow Claude to be used for lethal autonomous warfare or domestic surveillance, positions associated with CEO Dario Amodei’s stated concerns about military use.

The report says the court rejected Anthropic’s statutory, constitutional and First Amendment challenges. It also says Judge Karen Henderson dissented, arguing for a narrower reading of the law behind the Pentagon’s designation.

Fast Company reports that the ruling bars the military and its contractors from using Anthropic’s products and could cost the company substantial government business. Anthropic is considering further legal options.

Sources and evidence

• Federal court allows the U.S. government to label Anthropic a supply chain risk: Fast Company reports that the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected Anthropic’s statutory, constitutional and First Amendment challenges to the Pentagon’s designation, while the dispute centres on restrictions concerning lethal autonomous warfare and domestic surveillance. The report says Judge Karen Henderson dissented and that the ruling bars military and contractor use of Anthropic products.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

A US appeals court has upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a national-security supply-chain risk, keeping the company excluded from military contracts for now. Reuters reports that the 2-1 decision rejected Anthropic’s challenge to the March designation, which followed the company’s refusal to allow Claude to be used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance.

The majority said the Pentagon had acted reasonably, arguing that Anthropic’s safety restrictions could create a risk if its models were integrated into military systems. The court also rejected Anthropic’s claim that the designation was retaliation for its views on AI safety and ethics.

The ruling is not the final word. Anthropic said it respectfully disagrees and is considering further review, including asking the full DC Circuit to rehear the case.

Sources and evidence

• US appeals court upholds Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic - Reuters: Reuters reports that the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a national-security supply-chain risk in a 2-1 decision. The majority found the designation reasonable after Anthropic refused to permit autonomous-weapons and mass-surveillance uses, while Anthropic disputes the ruling and is considering further review.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.