BREAKING!! WOOHOO! JUDGE ISSUES *PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION* HALTING THE GOVERNMENT’S BLOCKING THE USE OF ANTHROPIC!!
HOLY SHIRT BELLS!! That escalated quickly – and in the best way! This lawsuit went from being filed to a *preliminary injunction* in *just 19 days*!!!
As you probably know, Anthropic took a hard stand against the government using Anthropic’s AI, Claude, for either surveillance of Americans, or for guiding fully autonomous weapons.
In retaliation a) Trump decreed that *every* federal agency would immediately block Anthropic from *ever* having another government contract, and b) Hegseth announced that anyone wanting to do business with the federal government must *immediately* sever any business relationship that they have with Anthropic. Finally, the government designated Anthropic as a “supply chain risk”. That, according to the Court, is a label “that applies to adversaries of the U.S. government who may sabotage its technology systems.”
Judge Rita Lin of the Northern District of California *swiftly* tamped this dumpster fire out saying, among other things:
“The balance of equities and public interest therefore decisively favor Anthropic. As already discussed, the financial and reputational harm that Anthropic is experiencing as a result of the likely unlawful Challenged Actions risk crippling the company. In addition, amici have credibly described significant harms to the public interest if injunctive relief is denied. A brief submitted by military leaders warns that the Challenged Actions “will materially detract from military readiness and operational safety.” Employees from other major companies in the AI field explain that the Challenged Actions threaten to “chill open deliberation” and “professional debate” amongst the people best positioned to understand AI technology and its potential for “catastrophic misuse.” A nonprofit advocacy group for small developers explains that their members are particularly vulnerable to sudden, large changes in government procedures, and the confusion and ambiguity created by the Challenged Actions will impose significant costs on them. For all these reasons, the balance of equities and public interest favor Anthropic.”
And speaking of those amicus briefs, I’m including two of them which you’re going to want to read, one is from retired former military officers, and the other from retired former national security government officials.
Anthropic graciously didn’t object to the government’s request to stay the injunction for seven days so that they could appeal it to the Court of Appeals. That’d be the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. ;~)
Notes from the Front members: the Opinion of the Court, the Preliminary Injunction, the two amicus briefs and, hey, bonus! a document with questions that the Court expected the government to answer during the hearing, are in your inbox now.
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https://annepmitchell.substack.com/p/breaking-woohoo-judge-issues-preliminary
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