Anthropic alleges data scraping

Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has accused three China-based companies of improperly harvesting its proprietary data, alleging that they used automated systems to extract large volumes of content from its models and services without authorization. The San Francisco-based company said the activity violated its terms of service and raised concerns about the misuse of AI-generated material.

According to Anthropic, internal monitoring systems detected unusual patterns of access consistent with large-scale scraping. The company claims the entities bypassed technical safeguards designed to prevent automated extraction of model outputs, potentially compiling datasets derived from Anthropic’s AI systems. It did not publicly disclose the full identities of the firms involved but said they are linked to artificial intelligence development and data aggregation services in China.

Anthropic stated that it has taken steps to block the accounts and infrastructure allegedly associated with the activity and is considering further legal and technical responses. The company emphasized that protecting model outputs and usage data is critical to ensuring user privacy, intellectual property rights and the integrity of its systems.

The accusations come amid intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence, particularly between US and Chinese firms racing to develop advanced generative models. Concerns over data access, model training sources and cross-border technology flows have increasingly led to legal disputes and regulatory scrutiny. Companies operating large language models often impose strict usage policies to prevent bulk data extraction that could be used to train competing systems.

Industry analysts note that proving improper data harvesting can be complex, especially when activity occurs across jurisdictions with differing legal frameworks. If pursued through litigation, the matter could test how courts interpret digital scraping, intellectual property protections and contractual terms in the context of AI services.

Anthropic said it is reviewing additional safeguards to prevent similar incidents and reiterated its commitment to enforcing its platform rules. The companies accused have not publicly responded to the allegations. The dispute underscores broader tensions in the rapidly evolving AI sector, where access to high-quality data remains central to technological advancement and commercial competition.