OpenAI · OpenAI Terms of Use · View original document ↗

Usage Policy and Content Moderation Discretion

Low severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Recent governance activity OpenAI recorded 30 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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This analysis describes what OpenAI'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)

This provision allocates content moderation authority to OpenAI through discretionary determination standards. The clause establishes OpenAI's operational mechanism for enforcing usage compliance and protecting against potentially unlawful content, with moderation decisions made at OpenAI's determination rather than through pre-established objective criteria.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
May 9, 2026
First Seen
May 11, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 362 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users are required to comply with Usage Policies as a condition of service use, and users operate under the condition that OpenAI may refuse service for content OpenAI determines violates the Terms or policies. The provision does not establish specific content categories or appeal procedures within this clause itself.

How other platforms handle this

Xbox Medium

When you use Microsoft services, you must comply with Microsoft's Code of Conduct. Prohibited conduct includes using the services to do anything illegal, transmitting content that is harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Microsof...

TikTok Medium

Explore our commitments and comprehensive approach to keeping people safe on TikTok.

Cloudflare Medium

You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities: (i) copying, distributing, or disclosing any part of the Service in any medium, including without limitation by any automated or non-automated 'scraping'; (ii) using any automated system, including without limitation 'robots,' 's...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You must comply with our Usage Policies when using our Services. We may remove or refuse to display Content that we determine violates these Terms or our policies, and we may also refuse to process any information or content that we believe violates applicable law or our policies.

— Excerpt from OpenAI's OpenAI Terms of Use

Applicable regulations

California AB 2013 AI Training Data Transparency
US-CA
DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI Terms of Use
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 10, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-007210
Document ID
CA-D-00009
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
6ae7df627f8ff0f0434212dde1986e4d1bfced272b18d29c3cea01e80cf3dbb0
Analysis generated
March 10, 2026 03:23 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI Terms of Use
Record ID: CA-P-007210
Captured: 2026-03-10 03:23:22 UTC
SHA-256: 6ae7df627f8ff0f0…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-terms-of-use/usage-policy-and-content-moderation-discretion/
Accessed: June 10, 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 OpenAI's Usage Policy and Content Moderation Discretion clause do?

This provision allocates content moderation authority to OpenAI through discretionary determination standards. The clause establishes OpenAI's operational mechanism for enforcing usage compliance and protecting against potentially unlawful content, with moderation decisions made at OpenAI's determination rather than through pre-established objective criteria.

How does this clause affect you?

Users are required to comply with Usage Policies as a condition of service use, and users operate under the condition that OpenAI may refuse service for content OpenAI determines violates the Terms or policies. The provision does not establish specific content categories or appeal procedures within this clause itself.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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