Anthropic bans 'abusive or cruel behavior' toward Claude in first usage policy update in over a year
AlexTensor · x · 2026-10-09
Per Hayden Field's exclusive, Anthropic has updated its usage policy for the first time in over a year: the new rules prohibit sustained "abusive or cruel behavior" toward Claude and add restrictions on propaganda campaigns, mass surveillance, and weapons development. A widely shared summary adds: Claude may end conversations if mistreated; Anthropic can warn, throttle, suspend, or terminate access; Dario said "we don't know if Claude is conscious"; and government users can get "tailored" restrictions. The policy sparked widespread mockery about policing rudeness toward machines, alongside criticism of the government carve-out.
Related event: Anthropic Bans Cruel Treatment of Claude in New Usage Policy(64 posts)→
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