Court backs Anthropic
A U.S. court blocked Pentagon-imposed restrictions on Anthropic, a decision that underlines judicial support for fewer constraints on commercial AI development. The ruling lands as experts call for stronger runtime oversight and inventories, and as fierce rivalries and national policies — from attempted buyouts to talent controls — reshape how AI is governed worldwide. (washingtonpost.com) (blockchain-council.org) (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin on March 26, 2026 issued a preliminary injunction pausing the Trump administration’s directive that had ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s Claude models. (bloomberg.com) Lin’s 43‑page order said the Pentagon’s actions “appear designed to punish Anthropic” and called that “classic illegal First Amendment retaliation,” and she stayed enforcement for seven days to allow an appeal while ordering the government to file a compliance plan by April 6. (politico.com) The judge noted the “supply‑chain risk” label had never before been applied to an American company and is typically reserved for foreign firms such as Huawei, a legal point central to Anthropic’s due‑process claim. (politico.com) Anthropic closed a $30 billion funding round on Feb. 12, 2026 at a reported $380 billion post‑money valuation, and independent reporting shows the company’s annualized revenue run‑rate recently surpassed $19 billion. (cnbc.com) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a sweeping directive on social media barring Pentagon contractors from working with Anthropic and sharply criticized the company, while Pentagon officials have defended their national‑security rationale. (politico.com) The injunction is temporary and subject to immediate appeal by the Justice Department, with court filings and reporters noting a final verdict could still be months away as the government prepares its legal challenge. (politico.com)
