American Anthropic Bars Chinese-Owned Entities From Accessing AI Services
U.S. artificial intelligence company Anthropic has announced new restrictions preventing Chinese-owned entities from accessing its products and services, citing national security concerns.
The Amazon-backed firm, best known as the developer of the Claude chatbot, updated its terms of service on Thursday to bar companies that are majority-owned by Chinese shareholders—regardless of their global location.
The ban also extends to entities linked to Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Anthropic said the decision was driven by fears its AI systems could be misused for military, intelligence, or authoritarian purposes.
“We recognize this may have a financial cost, but we believe ensuring AI is developed in alignment with democratic values is essential,” the company stated.
Industry analysts described the move as the first publicly declared prohibition of its kind by a major U.S. AI firm. The company estimates the policy could reduce revenue by “low hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers, Anthropic has grown rapidly, with more than 300,000 business customers worldwide. It recently raised $13 billion in funding, pushing its valuation to nearly $183 billion.
The decision highlights growing geopolitical tensions over artificial intelligence, as Washington tightens export controls and U.S. tech companies face increasing pressure to limit access by Chinese firms.
