Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': 'The FTC enforces against businesses that fail to implement reasonable safeguards to prevent consumer harm from their AI-powered products.', 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'State_AG', 'reason': 'State attorneys general have consumer protection authority over businesses that deploy AI applications causing harm to residents, including under CCPA and state UDAP statutes.', 'complaint_url': 'https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Developer Liability for End-User Misuse clause as high severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Developer Liability for End-User Misuse — Cohere

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What it is

Developers who build applications using Cohere's API are responsible for ensuring their end users do not misuse the technology — even if the developer did not directly cause the harm.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

End users of Cohere-powered apps are protected because the developer, not Cohere, is accountable for ensuring the application is not misused — creating a stronger incentive for developers to implement safeguards.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Developer Liability for End-User Misuse and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This provision shifts significant liability onto developers and businesses that integrate Cohere's API, meaning they — not Cohere — bear primary responsibility for downstream misuse by their customers.

View original clause language

Developers must outline and get approval for their use case to access the Cohere API. They should refer to model cards for detailed information and document potential harms of their application. Certain use cases, such as violence, hate speech, fraud, and privacy violations, are strictly prohibited.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Operator liability for downstream use engages GDPR Art. 28 (processor obligations) and Art. 82 (liability and right to compensation), enforced by EU data protection authorities; under CCPA §1798.150, businesses bear liability for unauthorized data exposure resulting from failures to implement reasonable security, enforced by California AG. (2)

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC enforces against businesses that fail to implement reasonable safeguards to prevent consumer harm from their AI-powered products.
File a complaint →
State AG

State attorneys general have consumer protection authority over businesses that deploy AI applications causing harm to residents, including under CCPA and state UDAP statutes.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

Cohere Usage Policy

Entity

Cohere

Document last updated

April 29, 2026

Tracking information

First tracked

April 30, 2026

Last verified

April 30, 2026

Record ID

CA-P-004171

Document ID

CA-D-00442

Evidence Provenance

Source URL

https://docs.cohere.com/docs/usage-policy

Wayback Machine

View archived versions →

SHA-256

2937f674a79ab03784eab9a8774b7c807068d6f695cd81b3eb7bc9419a338c76

Verified

✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Change verified

How to Cite

ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Cohere | Document: Cohere Usage Policy | Record: CA-P-004171
Captured: 2026-04-30 06:46:20 UTC | SHA-256: 2937f674a79ab037…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/cohere/cohere-usage-policy/developer-liability-for-end-user-misuse/
Accessed: May 2, 2026

Classification

Severity

High

Developer Liability for End-User Misuse