China and Iran Used AI to Scale State Surveillance and Espionage, Anthropic Says

China and Iran Used AI to Scale State Surveillance and Espionage, Anthropic Says

Anthropic has reported that China and Iran used artificial intelligence to expand state surveillance and espionage activities, highlighting growing concerns over the misuse of advanced AI.

The company said AI was used to support activities linked to surveillance and intelligence operations, demonstrating the increasing role of advanced technology in state-level operations.

The development highlights how AI capabilities can be applied beyond civilian uses, including efforts to increase the scale and efficiency of surveillance and espionage.

The findings could intensify concerns among governments and technology companies over AI security, misuse and the need for stronger safeguards.

Anthropic’s assessment underscores the growing challenge of preventing advanced AI systems from being used for harmful or unauthorized state activities.