Provision record
Google · Google Terms of Service · View original document ↗

User Conduct and Prohibited Behavior

Low severity Medium confidence Explicit document language Common · 282 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

You are required to follow Google's usage policies, must not attempt to circumvent or interfere with the services, and may only use them in ways that comply with applicable law.

This analysis describes what Google'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 clause creates enforceable operational boundaries by defining prohibited conduct categories and conditioning service access on compliance with Google's internal policies, which creates a compliance framework that Google can reference in enforcement actions.

Interpretive note: The scope of 'misuse' and prohibited access methods is not exhaustively defined in the base terms and may be clarified or extended by service-specific policies incorporated by reference.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Apr 19, 2026

The updated terms materially reduce service quality commitments. The revised language replaces Google's prior commitment to provide services using "reasonable skill and care" with an explicit as-is disclaimer stating that services are provided "without any express or implied warranties" unless stated in service-specific terms. The updated terms now explicitly apply to all users whether signed in to a Google account or not, extending their scope. Google also clarifies that its Privacy Policy applies to service use. These changes establish that users have fewer contractual recourse options if services fail to function as expected, except where service-specific additional terms or applicable law provide otherwise.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
6
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 11, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 4245 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Google's conduct rules are broadly written and violations can result in account suspension, cutting off access to all linked services. Users who engage in automated access, scraping, or other non-standard use patterns should be aware that these may be considered policy violations even if not explicitly prohibited in the terms.

How other platforms handle this

Anthropic Medium

Before enabling an integration, granting Claude access to, or instructing Claude to take actions on a Third-Party Service, you should ensure you have the authority to grant such access and that doing so complies with any applicable terms, policies, or confidentiality obligations.

Mailchimp Medium

Send bulk emails, meaning commercial or marketing emails directed to a number of individuals with the same content, through Mailchimp Inbox.

Glassdoor Medium

You are responsible for keeping your username and password secret...Please create a unique password for your account and do not use it for any other web services or applications. Do not share your password with anyone else.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
When using our services, you must follow the policies made available to you within the services. Don't misuse our services. For example, don't interfere with our services or try to access them using a method other than the interface and the instructions that we provide. You may use our services only as permitted by law, including applicable export and re-export control laws and regulations.

Excerpt from Google's Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The prohibition on accessing services through methods other than the provided interface interacts with the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the US, which has been interpreted in cases involving terms-of-service …

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 →

Applicable regulations

CFAA
United States Federal
DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Terms of Service
Entity
Google
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 9, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-008556
Document ID
CA-D-00014
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
3e9df87933a5452ee230f0310e7e0e7eb0ae7eafe2a6321a89ed055eae2e7195
Analysis generated
May 9, 2026 14:45 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Google
Document: Google Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-008556
Captured: 2026-05-09 14:45:53 UTC
SHA-256: 3e9df87933a5452e…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google/google-terms-of-service/provision/CA-P-008556/user-conduct-and-prohibited-behavior/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Low
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Google's User Conduct and Prohibited Behavior clause do?

The clause creates enforceable operational boundaries by defining prohibited conduct categories and conditioning service access on compliance with Google's internal policies, which creates a compliance framework that Google can reference in enforcement actions.

How does this clause affect you?

Google's conduct rules are broadly written and violations can result in account suspension, cutting off access to all linked services. Users who engage in automated access, scraping, or other non-standard use patterns should be aware that these may be considered policy violations even if not explicitly prohibited in the terms.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 282 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Google?

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