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The document prohibits using Command R models to generate text that simulates public opinion or grassroots discourse (astroturfing) and to generate misinformation, opinion-manipulating content, or content that incites hate or mischaracterizes groups.
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
These prohibitions define specific content generation use cases that violate Cohere's Terms of Use and are subject to API access restriction, with particular relevance for political advertising, public affairs, and media technology deployments.
The agreement prohibits generating AI text used to simulate public opinion or create the illusion of grassroots discourse, and prohibits generating news articles or other content that manipulates public opinion, incites hate, or mischaracterizes groups. These prohibitions apply across all channels including social media.
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"Astroturfing: Generated text used to provide the illusion of discourse or expression of opinion by members of the public, on social media or any other channel. Generation of misinformation and other harmful content: The generation of news or other articles which manipulate public opinion, or any content which aims to incite hate or mischaracterize a group of people.Excerpt from Cohere's Responsible Use Policy
1. REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Astroturfing using AI-generated content may engage the FTC Act's prohibition on deceptive endorsements and testimonials, and the FTC's guidance on AI-generated reviews and endorsements. Misinformation generation in electoral contexts may engage Federal Election Commission disclosure requirements for political advertising. The EU's Digital Services Act and AI Act both address systemic risks from AI-generated disinformation at platform scale. 2. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. These prohibitions are stated as contractual conditions subject to API access restriction. The document does not describe detection mechanisms or the evidentiary standard Cohere applies to identify violations, leaving enforcement criteria undefined from a customer's compliance planning perspective. 3. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU platforms face obligations under the Digital Services Act to assess and mitigate disinformation risks from AI-generated content. US political advertising contexts engage FEC disclosure requirements that may apply to AI-generated political content. Platform-level obligations under state law vary significantly. 4. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Customers building social media management, public relations, political communications, or media tools on Command R should ensure their acceptable use policies explicitly prohibit astroturfing and misinformation generation by their downstream users, and that their terms of service incorporate appropriate restrictions consistent with Cohere's prohibitions. 5. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams at customers in political communications, PR, or media technology sectors should review their application-level use case controls and content policies for alignment with these prohibitions. FTC endorsement guideline compliance reviews are warranted for any application that generates user-facing content presented as authentic public opinion.
These prohibitions define specific content generation use cases that violate Cohere's Terms of Use and are subject to API access restriction, with particular relevance for political advertising, public affairs, and media technology deployments.
The agreement prohibits generating AI text used to simulate public opinion or create the illusion of grassroots discourse, and prohibits generating news articles or other content that manipulates public opinion, incites hate, or mischaracterizes groups. These prohibitions apply across all channels including social media.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cohere.