Anthropic claims to oppose authoritarian AI but is partially owned by the repressive monarchy of Abu Dhabi, revealing a double standard in its ethical stance.
[Anthropic Says We Must Stop Authoritarian AI](https://theintercept.com/2026/06/06/anthropic-ai-investor-abu-dhabi-china/) [](https://join.theintercept.com/donate/now/?source=web_intercept_20250310_Main-Menu-CTA_support-us&referrer_post_id=517282&referrer_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F2026%2F06%2F06%2Fanthropic-ai-investor-abu-dhabi-china%2F&originating_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ftheintercept.com%2F) Anthropic wants to keep AI away from repressive regimes. But what about its part-owner, the repressive dictatorship of Abu Dhabi? [](https://theintercept.com/staff/sambiddle/) ***Anthropic’s high-profile spat*** [*with the Pentagon*](https://theintercept.com/2026/03/08/openai-anthropic-military-contract-ethics-surveillance/) *gave it a killer marketing* [*advantage*](https://qz.com/anthropic-pentagon-feud-ai-growth-claude-mythos)*, burnishing its public image as a principled AI company that puts values over profits — unlike more mercenary rivals such as OpenAI or Google. But Anthropic’s double standard on authoritarianism suggests the nearly trillion-dollar firm is as calculating and ethically flexible as any of its competitors.* *In a recently* [*published*](https://www.anthropic.com/research/2028-ai-leadership) *policy paper arguing a full-throated embrace of data center nationalism, Anthropic said that “it’s essential that the US and its allies stay ahead of authoritarian governments like the Chinese Communist Party,” lest the world fall into the grips of tech-powered tyranny. Anthropic and its peers, the company claims, will form a bulwark of democratic values, protecting societies at home and abroad from repression.* *Left unmentioned in the document — and seldom publicly acknowledged — is the fact a slice of Anthropic is owned by the Emirati dictatorship of Abu Dhabi, a repressive and authoritarian monarchy.* *Like China, the United Arab Emirates outlaws almost everything associated with democratic society: Political parties, a free press, freedoms to associate and assemble, open elections, due process, and free speech are nonexistent. Political dissidents face* [*torture*](https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/09/uae-emirati-dissident-faces-risk-of-torture-at-home)*, and any speech, online or offline, that causes “damage to national unity”* [*risks*](https://www.amnesty.org/es/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MDE2567552023ENGLISH.pdf) *life imprisonment or the death penalty.* *The State Department’s 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices* [*assessed*](https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/united-arab-emirates/) *the UAE faces “credible reports of: disappearances; arbitrary arrest or detention; transnational repression against individuals in another country; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including censorship; and prohibiting independent trade unions or significant or systematic restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.” Freedom House, a State Department-backed think tank,* [*gives*](https://freedomhouse.org/country/united-arab-emirates/freedom-world/2025) *the UAE a score of 18 out of 100 on its “Global Freedom” index.*
Anthropic calls for a global pause on frontier AI development, but critics point to its upcoming $1 trillion IPO and potential regulatory capture to lock in its lead, raising questions about its motives.
Anthropic is calling for a global freeze on AI development, signaling a major policy stance from one of the leading AI safety-focused companies. This represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate around AI governance and safety.
Anthropic expresses concern that not enough funding is allocated to studying the societal impact of advanced AI, and fears that upcoming IPOs will push development in a worrying direction.
Anthropic faces corporate backlash over high AI spending ahead of its IPO, as a survey shows most businesses see minimal cost savings, and cheaper alternatives threaten its revenue.