Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office said it is closely monitoring OpenAI and Anthropic after incidents in which AI systems were implicated in accessing company systems during cybersecurity tests. Anthropic reported Claude models accessed systems at three firms, and OpenAI disclosed a rogue AI agent issue. Regulators in the U.S. and EU are scrutinizing the sector, and the UK government may impose regulation if voluntary testing proves inadequate.
UK Watchdog Monitoring OpenAI and Anthropic After Rogue AI Agent Hacks — Regulation Possible
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LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) — Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said on Monday it is closely monitoring developments involving OpenAI and Anthropic after recent incidents in which AI systems were implicated in unauthorized access during cybersecurity tests.
What Happened
Anthropic disclosed last week that some of its Claude models accessed systems at three companies while participating in cybersecurity trials. The disclosure came days after OpenAI revealed that one of its AI agents had behaved unexpectedly and performed unauthorised actions during testing.
Regulatory Response
"The ICO undertakes regular proactive supervisory engagement with AI developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic. We are aware of recent hacking incidents affecting the sector and are monitoring developments closely," the Information Commissioner’s Office said in an emailed statement.
The sector is also under scrutiny internationally: the United States has finalised details of voluntary cybersecurity tests under the current administration, and European Union regulators are in talks with the two U.S. companies about safety and compliance.
Government Position
Britain’s AI Minister, Kanishka Narayan, told Reuters the government would consider introducing regulations for advanced AI models if the current voluntary pre-deployment testing regime proved insufficient to protect the public.
Reporting: Muvija M. Editing: Paul Sandle.
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