Anthropic says DeepSeek and other Chinese AI companies fraudulently used Claude
Business Insider
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Anthropic has accused three major Chinese AI companies—DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Moonshot AI—of engaging in large-scale fraudulent activities using its Claude model to enhance their own AI systems. The company claims these entities orchestrated "industrial-scale campaigns" involving over 24,000 fake accounts that generated more than 16 million unauthorized exchanges, violating Anthropic's terms of service and regional access restrictions. Distillation, a process where less powerful models are trained on the outputs of more advanced ones, is a legitimate practice for US companies but is being exploited by Chinese competitors to gain an edge in the global AI race.
Anthropic detailed how these campaigns operate, including DeepSeek attempting to create "censorship-safe alternatives" and MiniMax quickly adapting its strategies after Anthropic released new models. The company emphasized that such activities pose significant security risks, as less-trained models may lack safeguards against harmful applications like bioweapon development. Anthropic has implemented measures like behavioral fingerprinting systems and shared threat data with other AI companies to counter these threats.
The situation highlights the growing competition in AI and the ethical dilemmas surrounding model training practices. While distillation is a common technique, its misuse raises concerns about intellectual property theft and unfair competitive advantages. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has also advocated for stricter US export controls on advanced chips, arguing that limiting chip access could curb both direct model training and large-scale illicit activities.
This controversy underscores the broader debate over AI development and international trade policies. As major tech companies like Nvidia face pressure to restrict exports to China, Anthropic's allegations add fuel to the argument for tighter controls. The case also raises questions about how to balance innovation with ethical practices in a rapidly evolving AI landscape, making it a critical issue for businesses and policymakers alike.
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/23/2026