Protect AI firms from forced militarization

Major AI companies and civil‑society actors should publicly commit to defending developer autonomy when governments attempt to compel AI firms to build offensive or mass‑surveillance systems. Doing so would create an industry norm that preserves independent safety standards and civil‑liberties guards while forcing policymakers to pursue negotiated procurement routes rather than ad hoc coercion. — If industry refuses compelled militarization, it reshapes the balance between national security needs and private‑sector autonomy, affecting procurement, global competition, and civil liberties.