Claude models access issue: BJP MP warns against dependence on foreign AI

BJP Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has said the US government’s suspension of foreign nationals’ access to advanced AI models highlights the urgent need for India to build sovereign AI capabilities.

Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Saturday said recent restrictions imposed by the United States on access to some of its most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models underscore the importance of India developing its own sovereign AI capabilities.

Reacting to reports that the US government has suspended foreign nationals’ access to certain cutting‑edge AI models over national security concerns, Surya said the development serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with dependence on foreign technology platforms.

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“The US has suspended access to its most advanced AI models for every foreign national on earth, overnight, without notice,” Surya said in a statement.

Emphasising India’s strategic and civilisational importance, he argued that the country cannot afford to remain reliant on foreign‑controlled AI infrastructure and technologies.

“For a country of India’s civilisational weight and geostrategic position, with its own unique security challenges, there is simply no alternative to building sovereign AI capability,” he said.

Surya further noted that the latest developments have strengthened the case for indigenous AI development more than any policy debate could. “This moment makes that clearer than any policy argument ever could,” he added.

The remarks come amid growing global discussions on AI sovereignty, data security and technological self‑reliance, as governments increasingly view advanced AI systems as critical strategic assets. The debate has gained momentum following the US government’s decision to restrict foreign access to Anthropic’s latest AI models, citing national security considerations.

Tejasvi Surya quoted a statement by Anthropic AI, which said: “The US government, citing national security authorities, has issued an export control directive to suspend all access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign national, whether inside or outside the United States, including foreign national Anthropic employees.

“The net effect of this order is that we must abruptly disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all our customers to ensure compliance. Access to all other Claude models is not affected.

“We apologise for this disruption to our customers. We believe this is a misunderstanding and are working to restore access as soon as possible.”