Anthropic’s new privacy policy offers US consumers a way around the Fable ban
Anthropic’s updated privacy policy allows US consumers to verify identity via government ID scans, potentially bypassing the US export ban on its Fable and Mythos AI models. The policy, effective July 8, could enable Anthropic to restrict access to US citizens while leaving enterprise users without a clear workaround for now.
The US government ordered Anthropic on Friday to suspend access to its newest AI models, Fable and Mythos, for all foreign nationals due to national security concerns. Anthropic initially stated it could not distinguish between foreign and domestic users, forcing a blanket restriction on both groups. A new provision in Anthropic’s privacy policy, updated last week and set to take effect July 8, introduces a potential solution for consumer users. The policy now allows Anthropic to request government-issued ID scans, including images of passports or enhanced driver’s licenses, to verify US citizenship. If the ban remains in place, this verification process could enable Anthropic to grant access to Fable and Mythos only to users who submit proof of US nationality. However, enterprise users—likely the primary beneficiaries of the models’ advanced capabilities—will still face restrictions until Anthropic finds an alternative compliance method. The policy explicitly states that Anthropic may collect biometric data, such as facial geometry templates, alongside ID scans to confirm identity. This approach aligns with some US state-issued enhanced driving licenses, which include citizenship indicators. For now, enterprise customers remain locked out of Fable and Mythos, as the company has not announced a workaround tailored to their needs. The situation underscores the challenges of enforcing AI export controls without robust user verification systems.
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