Amazon · AWS Acceptable Use Policy

Prohibition on Harmful or Illegal Content

High severity
Share 𝕏 Share in Share

What it is

Illegal or Harmful Content. Using the Services to store, distribute, or transmit any material that is unlawful or harmful, including content that constitutes child sexual exploitation or abuse, content that facilitates human trafficking, and content that promotes, encourages, or incites acts of violence.

Why it matters

This provision imposes an absolute prohibition with no safe harbor — any AWS-hosted platform that fails to prevent or promptly remove such content faces immediate account termination and mandatory law enforcement referral, creating existential operational risk.

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 coordinates with DOJ and NCMEC on platform enforcement actions related to illegal content facilitation and child exploitation material.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State Attorneys General have independent authority to prosecute violations of state human trafficking and child exploitation statutes, and to enforce state consumer protection laws against platforms facilitating illegal content.
    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-002113
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-002113
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:03:12 UTC | SHA-256: c61af89c19589f50…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/amazon/aws-acceptable-use-policy/prohibition-on-harmful-or-illegal-content/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other provisions in this document