On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Commerce Department ordered Anthropic to suspend access to its AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, for foreign nationals. This directive was issued under national security authorities and resulted in a global suspension of access to these models. The legal basis for the order is likely tied to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which govern the export of technology. The order marks the first enforcement of export controls on an AI model, raising questions about the implications for foreign access and the potential impact on AI development in the U.S.
The Commerce Department's action follows concerns about the models' potential outputs, which could enable cyberattacks. The agency's decision has been described by former White House AI czar David Sacks as a response to a demonstration of a vulnerability in Fable's guardrails. Anthropic contends that the vulnerabilities identified were minor and previously known, suggesting that the government's response may be excessive. Both parties are reportedly seeking a quick resolution to the situation.