The US government has instructed Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI models, to prohibit access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals, effective last week. The Trump administration cited national security concerns as the rationale behind restricting these advanced AI systems. Bloomberg has obtained a letter from US Secretary of Commerce Howard W. Lutnick, which directs the company to impose restrictions on its AI models.
Letter Details
Addressed to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, the letter states that there is an unacceptable risk that the Claude Mythos 5 Model and Claude Fable 5 Model could be used in or diverted to a military-intelligence end use or end user. It further instructs the company to obtain a license for deemed exports and deemed reexports of these models to all destinations worldwide and to all foreign persons. The letter warns that failure to comply will result in prompt criminal and civil penalties as provided by law.
Full Text of the Letter
Dear Mr. Amodei:
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for administering and enforcing the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA). Under 1758(b)(1) of ECRA, BIS is authorized to establish interim controls on emerging and foundational technologies essential to US national security. Additionally, 50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(15) allows BIS to require a license for exports, and 744.22(b) of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) permits BIS to mandate a license for items subject to the EAR if there is an unacceptable risk of use in or diversion to a military-intelligence end use or end user.
Consistent with these authorities, I am informing you that a license is required for the export, reexport, or transfer (in-country), including deemed exports and deemed reexports, of Anthropic's Claude Mythos 5 Model and Claude Fable 5 Model to all destinations worldwide and to all foreign persons, as defined in 772.1 of the EAR, wherever located. This license requirement applies to the transmission or release of the Mythos and Fable models in any of the following ways:
- The sending or taking of the model out of the United States in any manner (see 734.13(a)(1) of the EAR).
- The sending or taking of the model from one foreign country to another in any manner (see 734.14(a)(1) of the EAR).
- Retransferring the model within a single foreign country (see 734.16 of the EAR).
- The release of the model to a foreign person in the United States or a foreign country (see 734.13(a)(2) and 734.14(a)(2) of the EAR).
Accordingly, until further notice, you must submit an application for an individually-validated license prior to the export, reexport, or transfer (in-country), including deemed export or deemed reexport, of the Mythos or Fable models to any destination worldwide or to any foreign person wherever located. Failure to comply will result in prompt criminal and civil penalties, as provided for by law.
When submitting a license application through the Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R), you must indicate in the 'Additional Information' box that the application is submitted based on this 'Is Informed' Letter and attach a copy of the letter with your license application.
The license requirements set forth in this letter remain in effect until superseded by a subsequent letter from BIS informing you of a revision to or rescission of this letter.
If you have any questions about this letter, please contact me or the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Jeffrey Kessler.
Sincerely,
Howard W. Lutnick
Secretary of Commerce
Implications
This directive underscores the US government's increasing scrutiny of advanced AI technologies, particularly those with potential military applications. Anthropic must now navigate complex export controls to ensure compliance, while the broader AI industry watches closely for similar actions against other models.
