On June 12, 2026, Anthropic announced it had disabled access to its most advanced AI models for users in certain countries, complying with a new US executive order aimed at limiting foreign access to cutting-edge AI technologies. The order, signed by President Joe Biden on June 10, 2026, targets AI systems that could pose national security risks if acquired by adversarial nations.
Anthropic, a leading AI safety company based in San Francisco, stated that the restrictions apply to its Claude 4 and Claude 4 Opus models, which are now unavailable in countries including China, Russia, and North Korea. The company emphasized that the move was necessary to adhere to the executive order's requirements for enhanced export controls on AI models with significant computational power.
The executive order, titled 'Ensuring the Safe and Secure Development of Artificial Intelligence,' mandates that companies developing AI models above certain computing thresholds must implement measures to prevent unauthorized foreign access. Anthropic's compliance includes geoblocking and enhanced user verification for its API and web platform.
Industry analysts note that this is the first major enforcement action under the order, which has drawn mixed reactions. Some praise it as a necessary step for national security, while others worry about stifling innovation and global collaboration in AI research. Anthropic has stated it will continue to work with regulators to balance safety and accessibility.
