Risk Score
0 = very fair · 100 = very risky
Summary
This document is Google's Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy, which outlines behaviors and content types that are not permitted when using Google's AI-powered products and services. It is a usage restriction policy rather than a full Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, or EULA, so it does not address data collection, ownership, payments, or account termination. The policy lists prohibited categories such as illegal activities, harmful content, misinformation, and security threats, and notes that Google may make exceptions for educational, scientific, or public-benefit purposes. Because it is narrowly scoped to prohibited uses only, most key consumer rights topics are simply not addressed here.
Flagged Clauses
Google can update this prohibited use policy at any time. This document does not explain how or whether users will be notified of changes, or whether continued use constitutes acceptance of new terms.
“The document is dated 'Last Modified: December 17, 2024,' implying it is subject to change, but no notice mechanism, consent process, or changelog is described within this document.”
Google retains sole discretion to grant exceptions to its own rules. The criteria for what qualifies as a sufficient exception are not clearly defined, meaning enforcement may be applied inconsistently.
“Google reserves the right to 'make exceptions to these policies based on educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic considerations, or where harms are outweighed by substantial benefits to the public.'”
The policy tells users what they cannot do but does not explain what happens if they violate the rules. Consequences would presumably be governed by Google's broader Terms of Service.
“The document prohibits a wide range of activities but does not specify what consequences or enforcement actions follow from violations (e.g., account suspension, termination, legal action).”
Users are prohibited from using AI to infringe on others' intellectual property or to deceive people about whether content was AI-generated. This policy does not address who owns AI-generated outputs.
“The policy prohibits violating 'the rights of others, including privacy and intellectual property rights,' and prohibits 'misrepresenting the provenance of generated content by claiming it was created solely by a human, in order to deceive.'”
This policy is silent on how Google collects or uses data from AI interactions. Those topics are covered in separate Google documents (Privacy Policy, Terms of Service).
“This document makes no mention of data collection, data sharing, user profiling, or advertising practices whatsoever.”
Missing Protections
- No explanation of consequences or enforcement actions for policy violations
- No user notification mechanism for policy changes
- No description of an appeals or dispute process if a user believes they were wrongly penalized
- No data collection or data use disclosures
- No information about who owns AI-generated content or outputs
- No mention of arbitration, class action waiver, or dispute resolution
- No account termination terms or explanation of what happens to user data upon termination
- No subscription, payment, or cancellation terms
- No warranty or liability limitations specific to this policy
- No COPPA or GDPR disclosures regarding minors or sensitive personal data used in AI interactions
Fair Terms
- Explicitly prohibits use of AI to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which is a strong protective stance
- Explicitly prohibits facilitating non-consensual intimate imagery, protecting potential victims
- Explicitly prohibits tracking or monitoring people without consent
- Explicitly prohibits automated high-stakes decisions (employment, healthcare, finance, etc.) without human oversight
- Explicitly prohibits impersonation and AI-generated misinformation designed to deceive
- Acknowledges that exceptions for education, science, or public benefit exist, providing some flexibility for legitimate research uses
Document information only — not legal advice.