Now Anthropic is blocking Russian users

Anthropic is accused of treating Russian-speaking Claude users unfairly through a system that charges them before requiring identity verification, leaving some unable to recover subscription fees - especially if they paid with virtual cards or gift subscriptions. The verification process reportedly collects biometric information that may be retained for up to three years, even when access is subsequently denied. The complaints also describe persistent account restrictions: device identifiers and email addresses are allegedly blacklisted, while GitHub repositories connected to an account may become inaccessible. Developers can consequently lose not just Claude but also projects and the ability to transfer or continue their work. Russian emigrants living in Europe are said to face similar blocks when logging in through a Russian IP address.

The central argument is that these measures go beyond geographic or legal restrictions and amount to discrimination based on nationality. The criticism contrasts Anthropic’s approach with Google and OpenAI, which are described as warning users before payment rather than subjecting them to extensive checks afterward. It argues that a U.S. citizen in Russia can use Claude while a Russian citizen legally residing in the EU may be excluded, suggesting an internal company policy rather than a necessary consequence of sanctions. The complaints also point to continued trade in Russian resources through intermediaries as evidence of inconsistent enforcement. Ordinary users, the argument concludes, bear the costs of political decisions through lost money, data, and work tools, while Anthropic has not publicly answered direct questions.