Anthropic releases the 2026 Usage Policy, adding a deceptive activities section effective November 12

Anthropic released the 2026 version of its Usage Policy, effective November 12. Most changes are clarifications of existing rules, with new examples added for Claude's new capabilities after taking on longer, more independent tasks. The policy adds a new section "Do not engage in deceptive activities or artificially create momentum," consolidating rules previously scattered across election, fraud, privacy, and disinformation clauses, covering fake accounts, forged news sites, and tools and infrastructure for influence operations. The election section is renamed "Do not undermine democratic processes," focusing on deceiving voters and interfering with elections, while removing the blanket ban on personalized voting and campaign targeting. The weapons clause clarifies that the prohibition includes software and components that make weapons function, as well as loading weapons onto autonomous vehicles like drones. The surveillance and criminal justice clause specifies that it prohibits tracking others without consent, using Claude to determine or recommend targets for investigation, arrest, or prosecution, and lists permitted uses such as fraud monitoring, content moderation, journalism, and legal research.