Users cannot use DeepSeek-V3 to help build weapons of mass destruction, generate child sexual abuse material, engage in illegal activities, or violate others' rights. An external Acceptable Use Policy is also incorporated into the license by reference.
This analysis describes what DeepSeek'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 prohibited use clause establishes absolute restrictions on harmful applications of the model. The incorporation of an external Acceptable Use Policy by reference means the full scope of restrictions extends beyond the license text itself, and users are bound by that policy without it being reproduced here.
The agreement prohibits a defined set of harmful uses and incorporates an Acceptable Use Policy by reference, meaning the full scope of behavioral restrictions is not contained within this single document and users should review the referenced AUP separately to understand all applicable restrictions.
How other platforms handle this
You agree that you will not: post, upload, transmit, or otherwise make available through the Twitch Services any content that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive, harassing, threatening, hateful, objectionable with respect to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national o...
You may not use the Venmo services for any illegal purpose, to send money to any person or organization on a government sanctions list, for gambling, for purchasing or selling illegal goods or services, or for any activity that violates applicable law. You may not use Venmo for commercial transactio...
You may not use Runway's tools to create content that promotes, glorifies, or facilitates acts of terrorism, mass violence, or genocide, or that could be used to provide material support to individuals or organizations engaged in such activities.
Monitoring
DeepSeek has changed this document before.
Receive same-day alerts, structured change summaries, and monitoring for up to 10 platforms.
"You must comply with applicable laws and regulations (including trade compliance laws and regulations) and adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy for the Model Materials, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement, and not use the Model Materials or any output therefrom to (i) develop or enhance weapons of mass destruction; (ii) generate content that sexually exploits minors; (iii) engage in illegal activity; or (iv) violate the rights of third parties.— Excerpt from DeepSeek's DeepSeek Open Source License
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The prohibited use provisions engage trade compliance law (including US Export Administration Regulations and EU dual-use goods regulations), child protection laws (including COPPA and laws prohibiting child sexual abuse material in all major jurisdictions), and general criminal law frameworks. The incorporation of an external AUP by reference creates a compliance dependency on a document not reproduced in the license. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for any use case adjacent to defense, dual-use technology, or content generation. The clause does not specify enforcement mechanisms or monitoring obligations for the licensor, but breach would constitute grounds for license termination. JURISDICTION FLAGS: Trade compliance law creates jurisdiction-specific obligations for US and EU organizations. US organizations must assess export control requirements for AI model use and distribution. Organizations in regulated sectors such as defense, healthcare, or financial services face heightened exposure. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: The incorporation of the AUP by reference creates a due diligence obligation to review and track changes to that external document. Procurement and legal teams should obtain and archive the current AUP at the time of licensing and monitor for updates. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should obtain a copy of the referenced Acceptable Use Policy, assess its requirements against the organization's intended use cases, and incorporate AUP compliance into product governance and review processes. Any use case involving government, defense, or content generation should be reviewed against both the license prohibitions and the AUP.
Full compliance analysis
Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.
Free: track 1 platform + weekly digest. Watcher: 10 platforms + same-day alerts. No credit card required.
Professional Governance Intelligence
Need to monitor specific governance provisions?
Professional includes provision-level monitoring, governance timelines, regulatory mapping, and audit-ready analysis.
Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.
The prohibited use clause establishes absolute restrictions on harmful applications of the model. The incorporation of an external Acceptable Use Policy by reference means the full scope of restrictions extends beyond the license text itself, and users are bound by that policy without it being reproduced here.
The agreement prohibits a defined set of harmful uses and incorporates an Acceptable Use Policy by reference, meaning the full scope of behavioral restrictions is not contained within this single document and users should review the referenced AUP separately to understand all applicable restrictions.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by DeepSeek.