Policy · Updated 9 Oct, 09:56 am IST

Anthropic bans sustained abuse of Claude and tightens usage rules

Why it matters for readers: Explains that AI services are being updated to stop harmful uses and repeated cruelty.

The new policy expressly forbids “sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior” toward Claude.1 2 3 4 5
Ending conversations remains the policy’s primary enforcement mechanism, though Anthropic may warn, throttle, restrict, suspend, or terminate access in extreme cases.1 3 5
Anthropic gathered and clarified existing restrictions into bans on election interference, deceptive campaigns, weapons software, and surveillance use cases.1 2
Anthropic frames the change as applying only to extreme, repetitive cruelty and not to normal frustration, testing, or creative uses.1 2 3

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8 Oct, 10:30 pm · The Verge AI
Anthropic bans ‘abusive or cruel behavior’ toward Claude
8 Oct, 11:46 pm · TechCrunch AI
Anthropic changes usage policy to ban model abuse and election interference
9 Oct, 12:33 am · The Decoder
Being mean to Claude can now get your account suspended under Anthropic's new TOS
9 Oct, 08:50 am · ET Tech
Anthropic bans 'cruel' behavior against its Claude AI
9 Oct, 09:56 am · The Hindu Technology
Anthropic bans 'cruel' behaviour against its Claude AI