It is absolutely prohibited to use Runway to create any sexual images, videos, or other content involving minors.
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
This prohibition reflects both a categorical ethical restriction and a legal obligation under federal and international law; violations may constitute criminal offenses under statutes governing child sexual abuse material regardless of whether the content is AI-generated.
The terms categorically prohibit generating sexual content involving minors, a restriction that aligns with federal criminal law under the PROTECT Act and equivalent international statutes, meaning violations may carry consequences well beyond account termination.
How other platforms handle this
You may not use the Services to generate content that violates applicable laws or regulations, including content that is defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, or that infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party.
Content that's meant to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations is not allowed on YouTube. We rely on many factors — like certain government and international organization designations — to determine what constitutes criminal or terrorist organizations.
You must not attempt to disable, circumvent, or otherwise undermine safety mechanisms, content filters, or use policies built into the models or the Service.
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"You may not use Runway's tools to generate sexual content involving minors or content that could be used to exploit or abuse children in any way.— Excerpt from Runway's Runway Usage Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages the PROTECT Act (18 U.S.C. Chapter 110), which criminalizes the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material including obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and has been applied to AI-generated content in recent enforcement actions. COPPA is engaged where minors may access the platform. International equivalents include the EU's Directive on combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The Department of Justice and FBI have primary federal enforcement authority. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. The generation of CSAM using AI tools creates severe criminal liability exposure for users and potential platform liability for Runway. Runway's prohibition aligns with legal requirements but does not substitute for active detection, reporting, and takedown obligations that may apply to online platforms under federal and state law. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US federal law applies nationally. EU Directive 2011/93/EU and member state implementations apply in the EU. Additional minor-protection frameworks apply in the UK (Online Safety Act) and Canada. There is no jurisdiction in which this prohibition would be considered more permissive than the policy states. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprises deploying Runway-based platforms must implement access controls and content moderation sufficient to prevent minor users from generating or accessing prohibited content. Platform operators may have mandatory reporting obligations under NCMEC CyberTipline requirements independent of Runway's policy. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Platform operators building on Runway should implement age verification, content filtering, and mandatory reporting protocols for CSAM detection. Legal teams should confirm that enterprise agreements with Runway include representations about compliance with CSAM-related legal obligations. Compliance programs should reference NCMEC reporting requirements and applicable state mandatory reporting statutes.
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This prohibition reflects both a categorical ethical restriction and a legal obligation under federal and international law; violations may constitute criminal offenses under statutes governing child sexual abuse material regardless of whether the content is AI-generated.
The terms categorically prohibit generating sexual content involving minors, a restriction that aligns with federal criminal law under the PROTECT Act and equivalent international statutes, meaning violations may carry consequences well beyond account termination.
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