You cannot use Shopify to sell products, run campaigns, or post content that promotes hatred, harassment, or discrimination against protected groups.
This provision restricts merchants from using Shopify to distribute hate-based content or merchandise, providing a layer of consumer protection beyond what law requires, though the broad language gives Shopify significant discretionary enforcement authority.
Cross-platform context
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Compare across platforms →This provision gives Shopify broad authority to terminate stores whose content is deemed hateful or discriminatory, which extends beyond US First Amendment protections to content that is legally protected speech but commercially restricted.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: In the US, hate speech is broadly protected under the First Amendment, meaning this provision operates as a contractual restriction beyond legal mandate, governed by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230) which immunizes Shopify from liability for third-party content while permitting platform moderation. EU merchants are subject to the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) Articles 14-16 on illegal content and the EU Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating racism and xenophobia. The FTC, EU national competent authorities, and state AGs are relevant regulators.
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