Claude Code source leak reveals how much info Anthropic can hoover up about you and your system

The Register is an established tech publication with a named byline (Thomas Claburn), lending source credibility, but this article relies heavily on a single anonymous security researcher (pseudonym 'Antlers') as its primary technical authority, which significantly undermines verification—a critical weakness given the explosive claims about data collection and hidden authorship. The framing is aggressively alarmist (comparing Claude Code to Microsoft Recall's privacy issues, invoking rootkits, highlighting 'undercover' operations), using sensationalized language that amplifies concern beyond what the technical details alone support; notably, Anthropic provided substantive responses about privacy controls and data retention, but these are relegated to brief rebuttals rather than integrated into balanced analysis. Readers should be cautious: while The Register has legitimate tech expertise, the reliance on unverified reverse-engineered code analysis, an unnamed researcher, and the hyperventilating tone ('hoover up,' 'pretty much has the run of your device') suggest advocacy journalism rather than neutral reporting—the April 1 URL date also warrants verification of publication timing.