OpenAI · Usage Policies

Absolute Prohibition on CSAM

High severity
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What it is

Generate child sexual abuse material or detailed sexual content involving minors.

Why it matters

This is one of the few absolute, non-negotiable prohibitions in the policy — no operator or user exception applies, and violations will trigger law enforcement referral.

Consumer impact

OpenAI's Usage Policy defines hard limits on what consumers and developers can request from ChatGPT, Sora, Codex, and the API — including absolute bans on generating CSAM, weapons-related content, and content designed to undermine AI safety systems. Violations can result in immediate, unilateral account suspension or termination, which for paying subscribers or businesses relying on API access represents a material service disruption risk. You can review the appeals process for enforcement actions at https://openai.com/transparency-and-content-moderation.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC has jurisdiction over unfair or deceptive practices by online platforms, including failure to implement adequate safeguards against CSAM generation.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Usage Policies
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
March 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 10, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001972
Document ID
CA-D-00005
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
d69a24617758e5b44e4be8eedeceb598a26dc4e280f2ab1469a45b64203e7403
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: OpenAI | Document: Usage Policies | Record: CA-P-001972
Captured: 2026-03-10 03:28:59 UTC | SHA-256: d69a24617758e5b4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/usage-policies/absolute-prohibition-on-csam/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
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