Character.AI prohibits content that promotes or depicts real-world violence, torture, animal abuse, terrorism, or extremist ideologies, while still allowing fictional storytelling in these genres.
This analysis describes what Character.AI's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The provision draws a distinction between fictional narrative exploration and real-world promotion of harmful content, but does not define where that line falls operationally, leaving enforcement to Character.AI's moderation discretion.
Interpretive note: The boundary between permissible fictional storytelling and prohibited promotion of violence or extremism is not defined in the document and is left to platform enforcement discretion.
Users engaged in fictional storytelling involving violent or dark themes should be aware that the platform retains discretion to determine whether specific content crosses from fictional exploration into prohibited promotion, which could result in content removal or account action.
How other platforms handle this
In assessing misuse, we consider factors such as evidence that a report was motivated by bias or hatred (e.g., based on protected characteristics such as race, sexual orientation, or gender identity) or other malicious intent.
We review account behavior and content that Members create, send, and publish in Mailchimp, including Campaigns and Websites.
We allow Content that names individuals in the highest positions in a company who have broad influence over the work environment, as long as the Content describes the individual's behavior or performance at work.
"Support a Safe Environment: Focus on creating and interacting with content that uplifts, entertains, or educates. Bold storytelling is encouraged, but content that harms, intimidates, or endangers others — especially minors — is prohibited. This includes any promotion or depiction of real-world violence, torture, gore, animal abuse, terrorism, or extremist ideologies.Excerpt from Character.AI's Community Guidelines
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Terrorism and extremist content prohibitions engage the FTC Act's unfair and deceptive practices framework and may interact with the Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP) and applicable federal counter-terrorism statutes.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
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The provision draws a distinction between fictional narrative exploration and real-world promotion of harmful content, but does not define where that line falls operationally, leaving enforcement to Character.AI's moderation discretion.
Users engaged in fictional storytelling involving violent or dark themes should be aware that the platform retains discretion to determine whether specific content crosses from fictional exploration into prohibited promotion, which could result in content removal or account action.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 141 platforms. See the full comparison.
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