Anthropic, a US artificial intelligence company that makes Claude (a conversational AI tool similar to ChatGPT), has stepped up enforcement against Hong Kong users accessing its service through VPNs—tools that mask a user's location and IP address. Starting Thursday, multiple Hong Kong users reported that accounts they had used for months were suddenly suspended. One user described receiving an email from Anthropic's safeguards team citing "suspicious signals" and policy violations after six months of using the service via NordVPN from Hong Kong.
The move reflects a broader pattern among US tech companies of restricting access to services in certain regions for legal, regulatory or business reasons. Anthropic appears to have tightened detection systems to identify and block accounts using VPNs from Hong Kong. Some users have found workarounds by routing connections through Singapore and registering with foreign payment details, though this may violate Anthropic's terms of service.
Why it matters
For Hong Kong students and families: Claude is a free AI research tool used by students for homework help, writing, coding and learning. The sudden blocking of accounts means those relying on it lose access to saved conversations and data with no warning. This creates uncertainty about whether other AI services might follow similar enforcement patterns.
For educators: Schools in Hong Kong considering Claude for classroom use now face uncertainty about access stability. Unlike official app stores or licensed education platforms, access to US AI services remains unpredictable for the region.
For Singapore: While Singapore users appear unaffected so far, the enforcement suggests companies are actively monitoring geography. The fact that some users successfully accessed via Singapore servers may attract more Hong Kong users to Singapore-based connections, creating a temporary loophole that could close.
Broader context: Hong Kong is not officially listed as an unsupported region for Claude. The enforcement appears to rely on detecting VPN use rather than geographic blocking at the border, creating an unclear situation for users who believed they had legitimate access.
What to do
- If you use Claude: Download and save important conversations now. Do not assume continuity of access, and avoid relying on Claude as your only AI tool for essential schoolwork or projects.
- For schools and parents: Treat free US AI services as supplementary, not core resources, for learning. Consider exploring officially supported platforms or approved alternatives if consistent access is important.
- Watch the broader trend: Monitor whether other AI companies (OpenAI, Google, etc.) impose similar restrictions on Hong Kong and regional users. This will signal whether tighter enforcement becomes industry-standard or remains isolated.