Google Cloud Acceptable Use Policy 2026-10-12

Citation

Google. “Google Cloud Acceptable Use Policy.” Policy web page, last modified 2026-10-12. https://cloud.google.com/terms/aup. Read 2026-10-15.

Bottom line

• The Google Cloud Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is general. It has nine prohibited uses for all Google Cloud services, plus rules for Google Workspace and Google Maps Platform.
• It names child sexual exploitation, terrorism, phishing and malware. It does not name surveillance, elections or automated decisions.
• Google puts its AI-specific limits in the Google Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy 2024-12-17.

Background

The page says “Last modified October 12, 2026” next to the list of previous versions.

Key claims

“For all Services that are subject to the Cloud Acceptable Use Policy”. “You must not use the Services – and You must not allow any third parties or End Users to use the Services – for any of the following”:

• “to engage in, promote, or encourage illegal activity, including child sexual exploitation, child abuse, or terrorism or violence that can cause death, serious harm, or injury to individuals or groups of individuals;”
• “for any unlawful, invasive, infringing, defamatory, or fraudulent purpose including Non-consensual Explicit Imagery (NCEI), violating intellectual property rights of others, phishing, or creating a pyramid scheme;”
• “to distribute viruses, worms, Trojan horses, corrupted files, hoaxes or other items of a destructive or deceptive nature;”
• “to gain unauthorized access to, disrupt, or impair the use of the Services, or the equipment used to provide the Services”
• “to test or reverse-engineer the Services in order to find limitations or vulnerabilities, or to evade filtering capabilities, except as expressly permitted in the Agreement;”
• “If You are using any Agentic AI Services or AI Agents (as defined in the applicable Service Specific Terms), this AUP applies to such use.”

“For Google Workspace”:

• “to record audio or video communications without consent if such consent is required by applicable laws and regulations”

“For Google Maps Platform”:

• “to combine any Google data with any personal information held by You to derive additional personal information without user consent;”
• “to assist in the use of weapons where that use would, or is likely to, violate applicable law or regulations.”
• “to engage in activities that disparage, discriminate, or harass, or are intended to do so;”

Enforcement:

• “Your failure to comply with the AUP may result in suspension or termination, or both, of the applicable Services pursuant to the Agreement.”

Evidence and method

This is a policy document, not research. It states rules. It gives no data on how often Google enforces them.

Limits

• Most of the downloaded copy is site navigation. The policy text is short.
• The weapons and privacy rules apply only to Google Maps Platform, not to all Google Cloud services.
• The policy permits vulnerability testing only “as expressly permitted in the Agreement”.
• The policy links to separate agentic AI use guidelines.