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The policy prohibits using OpenAI services for political campaigning, lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activities.
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
This provision establishes a prohibition on use of OpenAI services for election-related influence operations, including domestic political campaigning and demobilization, which is operationally significant for political organizations, PACs, and campaign technology vendors evaluating use of AI tools during election cycles.
Interpretive note: The terms 'political campaigning,' 'lobbying,' and 'demobilization activities' are not defined in the policy, creating interpretive uncertainty about the scope of this prohibition for advocacy, public affairs, and civic technology use cases.
This provision establishes that OpenAI services may not be used for political campaigning, lobbying, election interference, or activities intended to demobilize voters, applying to both domestic and foreign actors.
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"Empower people. People should be able to make decisions about their lives and their communities. So we don't allow our services to be used to manipulate or deceive people, to interfere with their exercise of human rights, to exploit people's vulnerabilities, or to interfere with their ability to get an education or access critical services, including any use for: academic dishonesty deceit, fraud, scams, spam, or impersonation political campaigning, lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activitiesExcerpt from OpenAI's Usage Policies
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages Federal Election Commission regulations governing campaign communications and political advertising, as well as the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in contexts involving foreign election interference. The EU Digital Services Act imposes transparency obligations on political advertising on large platforms. Relevant enforcement authorities include the FEC, DOJ, and EU Digital Services Coordinators depending on jurisdiction and specific conduct. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The prohibition on 'political campaigning' and 'lobbying' is broadly stated and may create uncertainty for government relations teams, think tanks, and advocacy organizations seeking to use AI tools for policy communication, depending on how OpenAI interprets and enforces these categories. The prohibition on 'demobilization activities' addresses a specific AI misuse pattern but is not defined in the policy. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: US political organizations and foreign actors operating in US elections face the most direct exposure. EU organizations must evaluate compliance with the EU Digital Services Act's political advertising transparency requirements separately. Operators in jurisdictions with strict campaign finance or political communication regulations should conduct independent legal review of their intended use cases. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Campaign technology vendors, PR firms, and advocacy organizations using OpenAI services should assess whether their planned use cases fall within the prohibited categories. The policy's prohibition on 'lobbying' without further definition may warrant clarification with OpenAI for professional services firms engaged in government relations. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Organizations engaged in political communication, public affairs, or civic technology should review their use cases against this provision before deploying OpenAI services. The undefined scope of 'demobilization activities' and 'lobbying' creates interpretive risk that legal teams should address through internal policy and, where warranted, direct engagement with OpenAI.
This provision establishes a prohibition on use of OpenAI services for election-related influence operations, including domestic political campaigning and demobilization, which is operationally significant for political organizations, PACs, and campaign technology vendors evaluating use of AI tools during election cycles.
This provision establishes that OpenAI services may not be used for political campaigning, lobbying, election interference, or activities intended to demobilize voters, applying to both domestic and foreign actors.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by OpenAI.