Amazon · AWS Acceptable Use Policy

Prohibition on System Resource Abuse

High severity
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What it is

Network Abuse. Monitoring or crawling of a System that impairs or disrupts the System being monitored or crawled. Denial of Service (DoS). Performing or facilitating denial of service attacks. Intentionally interfering with the proper functioning of any System, including any deliberate attempt to overload a system by mail bombing, news bombing, broadcast attacks, or flooding techniques.

Why it matters

This prohibition extends to facilitating DDoS attacks, meaning businesses that provide services or tools that could be weaponized for network abuse — even unintentionally — are at risk of AUP violation if they fail to implement adequate safeguards.

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 on cloud-facilitated cybercrime enforcement and has jurisdiction over platform operators who fail to prevent their services from being used for network abuse.
    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-002114
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-002114
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:03:12 UTC | SHA-256: c61af89c19589f50…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/amazon/aws-acceptable-use-policy/prohibition-on-system-resource-abuse/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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