You cannot use Vercel to distribute viruses, ransomware, or any other harmful software, or to launch attacks against other systems including DDoS attacks.
This analysis describes what Vercel AI'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 provision prohibits using Vercel's infrastructure for malware distribution or cyberattacks, which is a standard AUP requirement; however, given the account-holder liability for end-user conduct, it means developers must ensure their applications cannot be weaponized by third parties for these purposes.
Developers hosting applications on Vercel are prohibited from distributing malware or facilitating cyberattacks through their deployments, and bear responsibility under the AUP's end-user liability clause if third parties use their applications for these purposes.
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"You may not use Vercel's services to distribute malware, viruses, ransomware, or other malicious or destructive code, or to facilitate attacks on other systems or networks, including distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.— Excerpt from Vercel AI's Vercel AI Acceptable Use Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which criminalizes the transmission of malware and unauthorized computer attacks, and equivalent international statutes including the EU Directive on Attacks Against Information Systems and the UK Computer Misuse Act. The FTC also has authority over unfair practices where consumer harm results from malware distribution. Organizations in regulated sectors (healthcare, financial services, critical infrastructure) face additional regulatory exposure under sector-specific cybersecurity frameworks including HIPAA Security Rule and NIST CSF. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. This provision is unambiguous and aligns with applicable law, meaning that organizations operating lawful applications face low risk of inadvertent violation. However, the extension of account-holder responsibility to end-user conduct means developers of applications with user-generated content or file upload capabilities must implement controls to prevent malware distribution through their platforms. JURISDICTION FLAGS: All jurisdictions with cybercrime statutes create potential exposure for account holders whose platforms facilitate malware distribution, regardless of the account holder's intent. Organizations operating in critical infrastructure sectors in the EU face additional obligations under the NIS2 Directive to prevent their systems from being used as attack vectors. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Procurement teams should assess whether Vercel-hosted applications that allow file uploads, code execution, or network communications implement adequate security controls to prevent use as malware distribution or attack platforms. Security review requirements should be included in the development and deployment approval processes for such applications. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Security teams should conduct threat modeling for Vercel-hosted applications to identify vectors through which end users could potentially use the application for malware distribution or DDoS facilitation. Applications with user-generated content, file upload, or external network communication capabilities should implement specific controls addressing this risk.
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This provision prohibits using Vercel's infrastructure for malware distribution or cyberattacks, which is a standard AUP requirement; however, given the account-holder liability for end-user conduct, it means developers must ensure their applications cannot be weaponized by third parties for these purposes.
Developers hosting applications on Vercel are prohibited from distributing malware or facilitating cyberattacks through their deployments, and bear responsibility under the AUP's end-user liability clause if third parties use their applications for these purposes.
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