Runway · Runway Usage Policy · View original document ↗

Characters and Game Worlds: Under-18 and Professional Advice Restrictions

High severity Medium confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Within Runway's Characters and Game Worlds products, users cannot create AI characters based on minors' faces or voices, cannot target content at children, and cannot create characters that simulate professional advice or therapy.

This analysis describes what Runway'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)

The restriction establishes content boundaries that shape the types of creative outputs permissible on the platform and define categories of use cases the service does not support, thereby clarifying the scope of authorized applications.

Interpretive note: The 'intended to' standard for both child-targeting and professional advice mimicry is intent-based and may be difficult to apply consistently in practice; the boundary between general information and professional advice in AI character interactions is legally unsettled.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users of Runway's Characters and Game Worlds features cannot build AI personas that resemble minors, target children, or simulate medical, legal, financial, or therapeutic professionals; violating these restrictions risks account suspension and may also engage regulatory obligations under COPPA or applicable professional licensing laws.

How other platforms handle this

Wise Medium

You may not use our Services for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws or regulations. You may not use the Services to send money to sanctioned countries or individuals on government watchlists. You may not use the Services for gambling, illegal drugs, weapons, or any other prohibited acti...

TaskRabbit Medium

Subject to your compliance with the terms of the Agreement (including, without limitation, these Terms and Taskrabbit's Acceptable Use Policy), Taskrabbit grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable license to (a) access and use the Platform (in the locations and territories ...

Stripe Medium

Pharmacies and the sale of prescription drugs, as well as the sale of substances that mimic the effects of illegal drugs, sale of drug paraphernalia, and related items are among the categories restricted or prohibited from using Stripe's services.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Characters based on the face or voice of a person under the age of 18. Characters or games that are intended to engage users under the age of 18, including narrative elements or visual styles intended for children. Characters or games that are intended to provide medical, legal, or financial advice or mimic professional therapeutic or counseling interventions.

— Excerpt from Runway's Runway Usage Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The prohibition on characters targeting users under 18 engages COPPA in the U.S., which imposes consent and data minimization obligations for online services directed at children. The EU AI Act's Article 5 prohibited practices include AI systems that exploit minors or deploy subliminal techniques affecting children. The prohibition on AI characters providing professional advice engages FTC guidance on deceptive health and financial information, as well as state professional licensing laws that may prohibit unauthorized practice of medicine, law, or financial advising. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for enterprise users deploying Characters and Game Worlds in contexts that could be construed as child-directed or advisory. The policy's use of 'intended to' creates an intent-based standard that may be difficult to apply consistently, as audience and use-case boundaries in interactive AI applications can be fluid. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: COPPA applies to services directed at children under 13 in the U.S.; state laws (including California's AADC) impose broader obligations for services likely to be accessed by minors under 18. In the EU, GDPR's special provisions for minors and the EU AI Act's prohibited practices create additional compliance obligations. Professional advice restrictions may engage licensing laws in every U.S. state and EU member state. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise customers building on Runway's Characters and Game Worlds API or product should ensure that downstream use cases are documented and assessed against these restrictions before deployment. B2B contracts should include representations that the customer's use case does not target minors or provide professional advice through Runway characters. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal and product teams should implement audience assessment and use-case screening processes for Characters and Game Worlds deployments. COPPA compliance programs should be reviewed to confirm that child-directed determination methodologies apply to AI character products built on third-party platforms like Runway.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC enforces COPPA and has jurisdiction over AI systems that target children or engage in deceptive professional advice practices
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CFAA
United States Federal
Trump Executive Order on AI Policy Framework
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Runway Usage Policy
Entity
Runway
Document last updated
May 11, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 11, 2026
Last verified
May 11, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-010706
Document ID
CA-D-00773
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
c27b1ea06341626cc8144e29bf34df0e3b48b2db15a10460062e01e81488dc94
Analysis generated
May 11, 2026 13:13 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Runway
Document: Runway Usage Policy
Record ID: CA-P-010706
Captured: 2026-05-11 13:13:43 UTC
SHA-256: c27b1ea06341626c…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/runway/runway-usage-policy/characters-and-game-worlds-under-18-and-professional-advice-restrictions/
Accessed: June 30, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Runway's Characters and Game Worlds: Under-18 and Professional Advice Restrictions clause do?

The restriction establishes content boundaries that shape the types of creative outputs permissible on the platform and define categories of use cases the service does not support, thereby clarifying the scope of authorized applications.

How does this clause affect you?

Users of Runway's Characters and Game Worlds features cannot build AI personas that resemble minors, target children, or simulate medical, legal, financial, or therapeutic professionals; violating these restrictions risks account suspension and may also engage regulatory obligations under COPPA or applicable professional licensing laws.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Runway?

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