Amazon · AWS Acceptable Use Policy

Email and Messaging Abuse Prohibition

Medium severity
Share 𝕏 Share in Share

What it is

Email or Other Message Abuse. Distributing, publishing, sending, or facilitating the sending of unsolicited mass email or other messages, promotions, advertising, or solicitations (like 'spam'), including commercial advertising and informational announcements.

Why it matters

Businesses using AWS Simple Email Service (SES) or other AWS communication services must maintain email sending hygiene and list management practices that comply with the AUP, or face account suspension and potential CAN-SPAM Act liability.

Consumer impact

AWS's AUP binds all customers — from individual developers to large enterprises — to a broad set of prohibited use categories, and makes customers responsible for ensuring their own end-users comply. AWS retains the unilateral right to investigate suspected violations and to suspend or remove access to content or resources without prior notice, which can cause immediate service disruption. If you host applications or services on AWS, you should review whether your own terms of service pass these obligations through to your end-users, as failure to do so creates direct liability under your AWS contract.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC is the primary enforcement authority for the CAN-SPAM Act and has jurisdiction over deceptive email and messaging practices facilitated through cloud infrastructure.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
AWS Acceptable Use Policy
Entity
Amazon
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002111
Document ID
CA-D-00028
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
c61af89c19589f506fd3fc8bbb8010407f0052d2e845554c876b99cc2495d2ce
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Amazon | Document: AWS Acceptable Use Policy | Record: CA-P-002111
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:03:12 UTC | SHA-256: c61af89c19589f50…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/amazon/aws-acceptable-use-policy/email-and-messaging-abuse-prohibition/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other provisions in this document