Alibaba NYSE:BABA will block employee access to Anthropic's Claude Code beginning July 10 over security concerns as tensions surrounding AI tools and cross-border technology restrictions continue to grow.
Alibaba has reportedly classified Claude Code as a high-risk application because of potential "backdoor" risks, referring to hidden software pathways that could allow unauthorized system access. The restriction follows allegations by Anthropic that Alibaba used thousands of fraudulent accounts to access Claude and train its own AI models, claims that Alibaba has not publicly addressed.
The dispute comes amid broader AI security concerns affecting global technology companies. Anthropic previously updated its terms of service to restrict access from certain regions, including China, while several Chinese firms have since reduced or ended their use of the company's AI products.
Other major organizations have also limited access to Anthropic's tools. Meta Platforms (META) recently restricted internal use of Claude Code, while Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) have imposed similar limits, citing licensing and data security considerations.