SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest wireless carrier, lost access to Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable 5 after the White House demanded that the models be restricted to U.S. nationals. The move followed Amazon’s flagging of vulnerabilities and a Trump‑era warning that the tech could link to China.

Anthropic’s high‑security model, released June 9, can spot software flaws. Amazon researchers said guardrails could be bypassed, prompting the U.S. to order a blanket revocation for all foreign users. Anthropic opted to shut the models entirely rather than enforce nationality checks.

SK Telecom had invested $100 million in 2023 and partnered on a telecom‑specific AI model. The company denied ties to China, citing limited revenue there. Its withdrawal highlights how export‑control concerns can abruptly curtail AI collaborations across borders.

The U.S. government’s decision illustrates that even advanced AI can become a national‑security liability when foreign access is possible. SK Telecom’s exit may force other firms to reassess cross‑border AI partnerships under tightening export rules.