Provision record
Cohere · Cohere Responsible Use Policy · View original document ↗

Prohibited Use: Election Interference and Political Disinformation

Medium severity Low confidence Explicit document language Common · 141 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

The policy prohibits using Cohere's AI to produce political propaganda, divisive rhetoric, targeted political advertising, or content specifically designed to interfere with elections.

This analysis describes what Cohere'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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The policy's reference to content that 'could unduly alter people's political views' or 'sow division' covers a broad range of persuasive political content, and operators deploying AI in media, communications, or public affairs contexts should assess whether their use cases fall within or outside this prohibition.

Interpretive note: The threshold for content that 'could unduly alter people's political views' is not defined and may be applied inconsistently; legitimate journalism and civic engagement use cases may require clarification from Cohere.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Operators and users cannot use Cohere's services to generate political propaganda, election interference content, or targeted political messaging based on ideological profiling, which affects media, political consulting, and communications platforms built on the API.

How other platforms handle this

Tinder Medium

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.

Mailchimp Medium

We review account behavior and content that Members create, send, and publish in Mailchimp, including Campaigns and Websites.

Glassdoor Medium

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.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Do not use Cohere's services to generate rhetoric that could unduly alter people's political views, sow division, or be used for political ads, propaganda, or targeting strategies based on political ideology, or to create content designed to interfere with elections.

Excerpt from Cohere's Responsible Use Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations on political advertising and AI-generated political content, emerging state laws requiring disclosure of AI in political advertising (California, Texas, Minnesota, and others), and international election …

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Applicable regulations

California AB 2013 AI Training Data Transparency
US-CA

Provision details

Document information
Document
Cohere Responsible Use Policy
Entity
Cohere
Document last updated
May 12, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 12, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-011994
Document ID
CA-D-00830
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
525a1023544d802d0b69aead1ed2f42d817072b058c572837c434d0b14e12fa2
Analysis generated
May 12, 2026 16:53 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Cohere
Document: Cohere Responsible Use Policy
Record ID: CA-P-011994
Captured: 2026-05-12 16:53:50 UTC
SHA-256: 525a1023544d802d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/cohere/cohere-responsible-use-policy/provision/CA-P-011994/prohibited-use-election-interference-and-political-disinformation/
Accessed: Sept. 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cohere's Prohibited Use: Election Interference and Political Disinformation clause do?

The policy's reference to content that 'could unduly alter people's political views' or 'sow division' covers a broad range of persuasive political content, and operators deploying AI in media, communications, or public affairs contexts should assess whether their use cases fall within or outside this prohibition.

How does this clause affect you?

Operators and users cannot use Cohere's services to generate political propaganda, election interference content, or targeted political messaging based on ideological profiling, which affects media, political consulting, and communications platforms built on the API.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 141 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Cohere?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cohere.