German security politicians are voicing strong warnings about massive security risks following the United States blocking the release of new AI models from Anthropic.
Marc Henrichmann, the chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee for Intelligence Services (CDU), told the Handelsblatt that if a single administrative decision made in Washington can decide what AI tools are available to European authorities, companies, and researchers overnight, this is not merely a technical detail-it constitutes a critical security policy dependency. He added that in the protection of critical infrastructure, Germany must avoid a situation where a partner can arbitrarily cut off services, warning that depending on a tool that others control makes one “blackmailable.”
Konstantin von Notz, deputy faction leader for the Greens, described the US approach as “extremely short-sighted.” He argued that not only does this jeopardize global IT security, but it will also have massive negative effects on the demand for products from US providers.
Johannes Schätzl, the SPD digital policy expert, feels confirmed in his concerns due to the developments surrounding Anthropic. He stated to the Handelsblatt that the most powerful AI models are increasingly evolving into strategic technologies whose availability can be dictated by states, posing a major strategic risk. In response, Schätzl urgently called for a decisive strengthening of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as well as research institutions. These bodies, he insisted, must be equipped to independently analyze the capabilities of advanced AI systems and detect risks early on.
