OpenAI · Usage Policies

Age Restrictions and Minor Protections

High severity
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What it is

OpenAI strictly prohibits any use of its tools to generate sexual content involving minors or content that could be used to groom, exploit, or harm children in any way.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Any attempt to generate CSAM or minor-related exploitation content using OpenAI tools will result in immediate account termination and mandatory referral to federal law enforcement — there is no appeals pathway for this category of violation.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Age Restrictions and Minor Protections and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This is a legally required prohibition with federal criminal law backing — violations are not just a policy matter but a federal crime, and OpenAI is legally required to report known CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

View original clause language
Don't use our services to create content that sexualizes minors or that could be used to facilitate real-world harm to minors, including grooming.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision is directly mandated by 18 U.S.C. § 2258A (mandatory NCMEC reporting for electronic service providers with actual knowledge of CSAM), 18 U.S.C. § 2256 (federal definition of child pornography), and COPPA (15 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq.) where minors' data is implicated. The DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and FBI Crimes Against Children unit are the primary enforcement authorities. The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) Article 34 requires major platforms to assess and mitigate CSAM risks.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC enforces COPPA against platforms that fail to protect minors' data or implement adequate safeguards against minor-targeted harmful content.
    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 27, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003127
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-003127
Captured: 2026-03-10 03:28:59 UTC | SHA-256: d69a24617758e5b4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/usage-policies/age-restrictions-and-minor-protections/
Accessed: April 28, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
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