Anthropic Claude · Claude.ai Terms of Service

Mandatory Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver

High severity
Share 𝕏 Share in Share

What it is

You and Anthropic agree to resolve any disputes through binding individual arbitration and not through a class action. This means that you and Anthropic each waive the right to a trial by jury and the right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

Why it matters

Mandatory arbitration eliminates your right to sue Anthropic in court and prevents you from joining with other users in a class action, significantly reducing your practical ability to seek compensation for small-dollar harms.

Consumer impact

Anthropic's Consumer Terms permit the company to use your conversations, inputs, and outputs to train AI models by default, with a limited opt-out that does not apply when you provide feedback or when your content is flagged for safety review. Subscriptions auto-renew and fees are non-refundable upon cancellation, meaning you could be charged for a full billing period even if you cancel. You can opt out of conversation data being used for model training by navigating to your Claude.ai account settings and disabling the training opt-out toggle.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Within 30 days
    Within 30 days of first accepting Anthropic's Terms of Service, send a written email to support@anthropic.com clearly stating that you are opting out of the mandatory arbitration clause. Include your full name and account email address. Keep a copy of the sent email for your records.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act to challenge mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts that constitute unfair or deceptive practices limiting consumer redress.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State attorneys general in California, New Jersey, and other states have enforcement authority over unconscionable arbitration clauses in consumer contracts under state consumer protection laws.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Claude.ai Terms of Service
Entity
Anthropic Claude
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002117
Document ID
CA-D-00011
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
e757437a9d05ea816b5c1cddd3974f9a2ff93619333e14be4d368d9698b1e93f
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Anthropic Claude | Document: Claude.ai Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-002117
Captured: 2026-03-06 19:30:31 UTC | SHA-256: e757437a9d05ea81…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/anthropic-claude/claudeai-terms-of-service/mandatory-binding-arbitration-and-class-action-waiver/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other provisions in this document