This analysis describes what Substack'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
The unlimited discretion to remove content means users have no contractual guarantee that their content will remain available on the platform, regardless of compliance with the Terms.
The updated terms establish new content moderation procedures, including use of automated detection tools (hash-matching for CSAM, keyword filtering, direct message scanning) followed by human review before enforcement action, except where immediate action is necessary to prevent serious harm. Substack will notify users when content is removed or accounts are suspended for policy or safety reasons, unless notification would compromise an investigation or risk harm. Users may appeal content removal or account restrictions by contacting tos@substackinc.com, with Substack committing to respond within 3 business days. Beginning December 1, 2026, local VAT, GST, sales, or use tax will be added to Paid Subscription purchase prices, collected by Substack and remitted to applicable taxing authorities where its service provider is able to do so. You can report content violations using the report tool on each post or profile page, and appeal content moderation decisions by contacting the support email address.
View change record →Users' content can be removed by Substack at any time and for any reason, with no contractual requirement for advance notice or justification.
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"We reserve the right to remove any content from Substack at any time, for any reason (including, but not limited to, if someone alleges you contributed that content in violation of these Terms)...Excerpt from Substack's Terms of Use
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The unlimited discretion to remove content means users have no contractual guarantee that their content will remain available on the platform, regardless of compliance with the Terms.
Users' content can be removed by Substack at any time and for any reason, with no contractual requirement for advance notice or justification.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 250 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Substack.