OpenAI · Usage Policies

Sensitive Areas Content Restrictions

Medium severity
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Consumer impact (what this means for users)

OpenAI's Usage Policy directly affects what you can ask ChatGPT or other OpenAI tools to do, and violations — even unintentional ones — can result in account suspension or termination without a guaranteed restoration process. The policy also makes developers and businesses that build on OpenAI's API responsible for ensuring their own users comply, meaning the apps you use powered by OpenAI may impose additional restrictions beyond OpenAI's own defaults. You can submit an appeal if OpenAI takes action against your account by visiting https://openai.com/transparency-and-content-moderation/#:~:text=determining%20enforcement%20actions.-,Appeals%20process.

How other platforms handle this

Shopify Medium

You may not use the Shopify Services to send unsolicited communications, promotions, or advertisements (spam) to users who have not opted in to receive such communications.

Netflix Medium

Unless otherwise explicitly authorized, you agree not to: (ix) engage in any of the foregoing in connection with the use, creation, development, modification, prompting, fine-tuning, training, testing, benchmarking or validation of any machine learning tool, model, system, algorithm, product or othe...

Tinder Medium

You are an individual (i.e., not any body corporate, partnership or other business entity) at least 18 years old

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

The 'sensitive areas' classification is intentionally broad and gives OpenAI and operators significant discretion over what the AI will discuss, which can affect access to legitimate information on political, health, or social topics.

View original clause language
We use the concept of sensitive areas to capture topics that require particular delicacy due to their complex or divisive nature. Political, religious, and other controversial subjects often involve deeply held beliefs where reasonable people disagree, and what's considered appropriate may vary across regions and cultures.

Applicable regulations

CFAA
United States Federal
DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

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-002431
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-002431
Captured: 2026-03-10 03:28:59 UTC | SHA-256: d69a24617758e5b4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/usage-policies/sensitive-areas-content-restrictions/
Accessed: April 28, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
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