Catholic scholars back Anthropic in landmark AI ethics lawsuit against Pentagon

A group of Catholic moral theologians and ethicists has filed a legal brief supporting AI company Anthropic in its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of War. The scholars argue that the company's refusal to allow its technology for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance aligns with Catholic teaching. Their intervention comes after months of tension between Anthropic and the U.S. government over military use of AI.

The brief, submitted by four academics from Catholic institutions, takes a firmer stance than Anthropic itself. While the company opposes unreliable autonomous weapons, the scholars reject their use entirely—even if they function perfectly.

The dispute began in February 2024 when the U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, demanded Anthropic grant unrestricted military access to its AI model, Claude. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum on February 27, 2025, warning of severe repercussions if the company refused. When Anthropic declined—citing ethical concerns over mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons—Trump banned the firm from all federal contracts, accusing it of 'arrogance and betrayal.' Anthropic later announced legal action, backed by tech firms like Microsoft and former military officials, after the Pentagon labelled it a 'supply chain risk,' blocking it from bids and partnerships.

The Catholic scholars' brief highlights two key ethical concerns. First, they argue that lethal autonomous weapons remove human responsibility from life-and-death decisions, violating Catholic just war principles. Human judgment, they stress, is essential for assessing proportionality and discrimination in conflict. Second, they oppose mass surveillance, which they claim erodes privacy, human dignity, and local governance—principles central to Catholic teaching on subsidiarity. Anthropic's decision to maintain guardrails on its AI technology has drawn praise from the scholars. They describe the company's stance as 'morally responsible,' particularly in resisting demands that conflict with ethical standards. Other AI firms, such as xAI, have complied with the government's requirements, leaving Anthropic isolated in its refusal.

The legal brief reinforces Anthropic's position as it challenges the Pentagon's restrictions. The scholars' arguments centre on the incompatibility of autonomous weapons and mass surveillance with Catholic ethics. Their support adds weight to the company's case, which now hinges on whether courts will uphold ethical objections over military demands.