The White House issued an urgent directive to AI developer Anthropic on June 12, giving the company just 90 minutes to implement stringent access restrictions on its Mythos-class AI models, including Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5. This rapid order stemmed from significant national security concerns, specifically the belief that a group with ties to China may have gained unauthorized access to the advanced AI via a "jailbreak" flaw in Fable 5.
White House Fears Chinese Access to AI
The US government suspected that unauthorized access to the Mythos AI model by Chinese entities could pose a substantial threat to national security. Officials feared the potential for reverse-engineering the model through "distillation," a process that could allow hostile actors to replicate or exploit the technology. Consequently, Anthropic was ordered to limit access exclusively to US nationals and roll back global availability, all under an export-control order.
Anthropic's Initial Response and Subsequent Actions
According to reports, Anthropic initially claimed that the White House had not provided a detailed explanation for the urgent directive. This led the company to dispatch technical executives to meet with government officials in an effort to understand the situation and address the concerns.
The issue reportedly centered on a "jailbreak" flaw in the Fable 5 model, which allows users to bypass the AI system's built-in safety rules and restrictions. David Sacks, an adviser to former President Trump, publicly detailed the events, stating that the White House was informed about the vulnerability. While Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei allegedly downplayed the risk of the jailbreak, and the company's initial statement echoed this sentiment, allegations suggest Anthropic initially refused to fix the issue. These claims, however, remain unconfirmed.
Broader Industry Concerns and Future Meetings
The security concerns are not isolated to Anthropic. Amazon reportedly identified a similar jailbreak flaw, with CEO Andy Jassy communicating the issue directly to members of the US administration. Following the government's directive, Anthropic is said to have restricted access for all users, not just foreign ones, indicating the severity of the perceived threat.
Anthropic and White House officials are scheduled to hold further discussions in Washington D.C. on June 22, 2026, to address the ongoing situation and ensure compliance with national security protocols.