Hidden code found in Claude for tracking users from restricted countries.



➤ The hidden feature activates in Claude Code even when using a proxy or VPN.

➤ For now, it is primarily targeted at China: it checks Chinese time zones (Asia/Shanghai and Asia/Urumqi) and looks at whether the proxy is linked to Chinese companies or AI labs. If there is a match, the request is silently flagged directly in the system prompt so that Anthropic can see it on the server.

➤ The code has been working since April 2026 and was not officially announced. For now, the mechanism is configured specifically for China, but it looks like a universal tool that could be applied to other restricted countries in the future.

➤ At the same time, Claude Sonnet 5 was released today – the most agentic model in the Sonnet lineup: it plans multi-step tasks better, uses tools more actively, and can work autonomously for longer. The model is close in capabilities to Claude Opus 4.8, but cheaper.
View Original
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
  • Reward
  • Comment
  • Repost
  • Share
Comment
Add a comment
Add a comment
No comments
  • Pinned