A federal judge in San Francisco ruled that including Anthropic on the Pentagon's blacklist was illegal.

Federal Judge Rita Lin ruled that the Department of Defense (DOD) acted illegally when it designated Anthropic as a risk to the supply chain, arguing that this decision violated the First Amendment.

In March, DOD classified Anthropic as a threat to national security, after negotiations regarding the use of its artificial intelligence technology failed. The judge emphasized that the DOD's actions lacked a concrete basis and that it cannot impose sanctions based on the company's criticisms of government policies. Although the decision represents a victory for Anthropic, its lawsuit in Washington, D.C., continues, and the company remains classified as a risk to the supply chain until its conclusion.

Anthropic welcomed the court's ruling, expressing its desire to collaborate with the government to leverage artificial intelligence for the benefit of national security.