Cohere · Cohere Usage Policy

Prohibition on CBRN and Weapons-Related Content

High severity
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What it is

Cohere prohibits using its AI to generate instructions, designs, or technical assistance related to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapons or other weapons capable of mass harm.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

This prohibition protects public safety by preventing Cohere's AI from being used to assist in the development of weapons of mass destruction or other tools of mass harm.

Cross-platform context

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This provision reflects the most severe category of AI misuse risk and aligns with national security export control frameworks; violations could expose operators to criminal liability under US federal law.

View original clause language
Certain use cases, such as violence, hate speech, fraud, and privacy violations, are strictly prohibited. Developers must outline and get approval for their use case to access the Cohere API, understanding the models and limitations.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: CBRN content restrictions engage the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR 730–774) administered by BIS; the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 CFR 120–130) administered by DDTC; the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act (22 U.S.C. §6701); and the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act (18 U.S.C. §175), with federal criminal enforcement by DOJ. (2)

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has residual consumer protection authority, though primary enforcement for CBRN violations lies with DOJ, BIS, and DDTC under export control and criminal law frameworks.
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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-004175
Document ID
CA-D-00442
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
2937f674a79ab03784eab9a8774b7c807068d6f695cd81b3eb7bc9419a338c76
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Cohere | Document: Cohere Usage Policy | Record: CA-P-004175
Captured: 2026-04-30 06:46:20 UTC | SHA-256: 2937f674a79ab037…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/cohere/cohere-usage-policy/prohibition-on-cbrn-and-weapons-related-content/
Accessed: May 2, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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