JPMorgan Blocks Claude AI Access in Hong Kong, June 19

JPMorgan Chase has blocked its Hong Kong staff from accessing Anthropic’s Claude AI models, removing them from an internal list of approved tools. The bank cited wording in Anthropic’s licensing agreement as the reason. Goldman Sachs made a similar move in April. The restrictions reflect rising U.S.-China tensions over AI technology and follow U.S. government orders limiting Anthropic’s model exports worldwide.

Why JPMorgan Pulled the Plug

JPMorgan removed Claude from its Hong Kong employee tools due to the specific wording of Anthropic’s usage terms in their licensing agreement. Anthropic’s contract explicitly bans using its models in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Macau. The bank did not publicly comment on the decision, but sources told the Financial Times that the strict interpretation of these terms prompted the removal.

A Pattern Among Wall Street Banks

Goldman Sachs removed Claude from its Hong Kong platform in April for the same reason. Both banks cited Anthropic’s licensing restrictions. Other AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini remain available on JPMorgan’s internal systems, showing the restriction targets Anthropic specifically. The moves signal growing caution among U.S. financial firms about AI tool usage outside the United States.

U.S. Government Tightens Anthropic Controls

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ordered Anthropic to suspend exports of its Mythos and Fable AI models worldwide and to all foreign nationals, citing military intelligence concerns in China, Russia, and other countries. Microsoft blocked its employees from using Fable 5 on June 10 over data retention fears. Anthropic disabled Fable 5 for all users on June 12 following the government order. JPMorgan removed Claude from its Hong Kong tools as part of this broader regulatory pressure.

What This Means for Anthropic

Anthropic has faced repeated setbacks throughout 2026. In March, the firm sued the Pentagon after the Trump administration designated it a “supply chain risk,” a decision executives said could cost billions in lost revenue. U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Anthropic are “going fine,” but the company continues to face export restrictions and corporate access limits.

Final Thoughts

JPMorgan’s Claude ban in Hong Kong reflects tightening U.S. export controls on Anthropic and growing corporate caution over AI security. The restrictions show how geopolitical tensions are reshaping AI access in global finance.

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The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.