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• Acceptable Use Policy

Acceptable Use Policy

Last Update 4/21/2025

Welcome to the beehiiv community! We're thrilled to have you here. This Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, prevent abuse of our Services, and protect the interests of both our customers and their contacts, as well as our goodwill and reputation. By using any of beehiiv's Services you are agreeing to the terms of this AUP. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to creating a safe, respectful, and responsible environment for everyone.

Platform Requirements

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure and trustworthy ecosystem, our platform has certain requirements that users must adhere to. These platform requirements are essential for ensuring the integrity of our services and the protection of our mutual reputation. By following these requirements, you help us maintain a high standard of performance, security, and compliance.

• Address Collection and Contact Lists - To safeguard the integrity of our email services and respect the privacy of recipients, beehiiv requires all users to obtain affirmative consent before sending any emails. This consent must be freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous, and provided by a clear affirmative act, as defined by applicable privacy and data protection laws.
  
  The following methods of list collection do not meet beehiiv's requirements for affirmative consent: Purchased Lists, where email addresses are obtained from data brokers or vendors without explicit consent from the recipients; Rented or Co-Registration Lists, where consent is bundled or shared with multiple parties; Scraped or Harvested Addresses, where email addresses are gathered from public or social sources without consent; Third-Party-Provided Lists, including those shared by partners, affiliates, or lead-generation networks; and Blanket or Bundled Consents, where recipients agree to receive communications from multiple parties without clear identification of whom those parties are.
  
  At any time, beehiiv may request proof of consent for your email lists. You may be asked to provide documentation or other evidence that recipients have given their affirmative consent to receive communications from you. This helps us ensure compliance with relevant privacy laws and maintain the integrity of our platform;
• Unsubscribing - Recipients must be informed about how to withdraw their consent at any time. Commercial emails sent through the beehiiv platform allow for a clear opt-out mechanism for receiving future messages. Compliance is provided through an opt-out link in the footer of each email. This link is not to be removed, obfuscated, or manipulated in any way. Use of unauthorized external unsubscribe processes is prohibited. If there is an opt-out menu or preference center offered, one menu option must allow for a complete opt-out of all messages;
• Sender Identification - All commercial emails must include a valid physical postal address. This can be your current street address, a post office box you've registered with the U.S. Postal Service, or a private mailbox you've registered with a commercial mail-receiving agency established under Postal Service regulations;
• Deceptive Subject Lines - Senders must include a clear non-deceptive subject line, which accurately describes the content and purpose of the email. Providing misleading or deceptive information in a subject line simply to prompt recipients to open an email is prohibited;
• False or Misleading Header Information - beehiiv prohibits the transmission of e-mail messages or transactional messages that contain materially false or misleading header information. Header information (i.e., the "From," "To," "Reply To," along with routing information, including the originating domain name and email address) must be accurate and must clearly identify the person who initiated the message.

Prohibited Behavior

At beehiiv, we prioritize maintaining a secure and respectful email environment for all users. Prohibited behavior encompasses activities that threaten the security or provision of our Services, violate privacy, or promote harassment. By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure a positive experience for everyone within the beehiiv community.

Email Marketing

beehiiv was created as a platform for content creators, not as a traditional email marketing service. While newsletters may include affiliate links, product mentions, or sponsored placements, their primary purpose must be to deliver meaningful editorial content, not to function as promotional campaigns. We do not permit newsletters that are built primarily to drive sales, capture leads, or push marketing content at scale. Specifically, this includes emails that exist solely to promote products or services without substantive editorial content, high-frequency promotional blasts centered on discounts or offers, and campaigns intended to cold-pitch services or collect user information. We also prohibit AI-driven content farms that mass-produce marketing material with little or no human input.

Editorially-driven newsletters are permitted, including those that occasionally feature product recommendations, sponsorships, or AI-assisted writing so long as these elements are secondary to the creator's original voice and value-driven content. All promotional mentions must align with the publication's theme, be clearly disclosed, and avoid disrupting the reader experience.

Use of AI

Newsletters built entirely with AI-generated content and lacking meaningful human input are not allowed on the beehiiv platform. This includes content that is mass-produced, overly templated, or designed solely to manipulate clicks and engagement. We also prohibit creating multiple newsletters with slightly reworded AI content to flood inboxes or drive traffic to affiliate links. We prohibit the use of AI for low-value content farms, including repetitive listicles (e.g., Top 10 lists, daily quizzes, or generic "thought of the day" formats created at scale. Additionally, any use of AI to generate misleading narratives, impersonations, or deceptive deepfakes is strictly prohibited.

Legal and Privacy Violations

• Use of beehiiv's services to send email that violates the CAN-SPAM Act, CASL, CCPA, GDPR, or other applicable anti-spam or data protection laws, including sending email that results in excessive spam complaints, bounces, or blocklisting, even if the messages themselves are not malicious;
• Violate the legal rights of others, including their rights to privacy and publicity, or posting material that could lead to civil or criminal liability under applicable laws, regulations, or beehiiv's Terms of Use, Publisher Agreement, or Privacy Policy;
• Behavior that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the US or other countries); promotes illegal activity, or advocates, promotes, or assists any unlawful act.

Deceptive or Misleading Actions

• Impersonating others or falsely stating or otherwise misrepresenting your affiliation with any person, group, or entity (including by "spoofing," "phishing," manipulating headers or other identifiers) or falsely implying that you are affiliated with or endorsed by beehiiv or any other third party;
• Impersonate or attempt to impersonate beehiiv or a beehiiv employee, another user, or any other person, brand, organization, or entity;
• Publish or post another's private information, such as personal phone numbers, home addresses, or other confidential details, without their explicit consent. This includes threatening to expose private information or encouraging others to do so. Publicly available information through official channels (e.g., government databases) is not subject to this policy.

Account and Platform Misuse

• Create an account or newsletter with the sole intent of monetizing through Boosts;
• Create an account or newsletter with the sole intent of monetizing through the Ad Network;
• Account creation for the purpose of creating multiple publications that send emails with materially similar subject lines or content;
• Re-adding unsubscribed or spam-reported email addresses to other publications or lists, where the recipient has not provided specific consent to that publication, whether within the beehiiv platform or across different email service providers;
• Failure to secure your beehiiv account, resulting in an account compromise or account takeover (ATO) that negatively impacts beehiiv's Services to other customers;
• Using the platform solely for the purpose of directing subscribers to external websites for the sole purpose of monetizing clicks, referrals, or other revenue-generating activities without providing original, valuable, or engaging content.

Content Violations

• Publish any material that was written or created by someone else and claim it as your own; products that infringe the intellectual property rights of others, including trademark, copyright, design, or patent rights,
• Publish any material that is materially false, inaccurate, or misleading in a way that could deceive or confuse others about important events, topics, or circumstances;
• Engage in conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of beehiiv, or which may harm beehiiv or its users, or expose them to liability;
• Exploiting paid ads or incentives in a misleading way to artificially inflate engagement or click-through rates;
• Disparage beehiiv or our partners, vendors, or affiliates; or authorize, permit, enable, induce, or encourage any third party to do any of the above;
• Engaging in or promoting unethical SEO tactics, such as keyword stuffing, hidden text, cloaking, or other methods designed to manipulate search engine algorithms or mislead users.

Security and System Integrity Violations

• Attempt to disable, bypass, or interfere with any security features, access controls, or restrictions of the Services, including features that prevent content copying or limit the use of the Services;
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any part of beehiiv, its servers, or any server, computer, or database connected to beehiiv:
• Overloading or attempting to overload our infrastructure by sending excessive requests to our servers or exceeding normal usage limits, including using automated systems like "robots," "spiders," or "offline readers" to send more requests than a human could in the same amount of time, or significantly exceeding the intended usage parameters of the Services;
• Decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any of the Software;
• Use any part of beehiiv's platform to create a competing product;
• Introduce malware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bombs, phishing, spyware, or other harmful code.

Prohibited Content

beehiiv is built for creators, people with something to say, share, or teach. While we support a wide range of voices and publishing styles, we also recognize the need to maintain a high-quality ecosystem for both senders and readers. That means setting clear boundaries around harmful, misleading, or low-quality content that jeopardizes trust or contributes to a poor inbox experience. In many cases, this kind of content also leads to poor deliverability, harming both the sender's reputation and our broader platform. The following outlines the types of content that are not allowed on beehiiv due to legal or reputational risk.

• Behavior and Content That Incites - beehiiv strictly prohibits content that promotes or encourages violence, discrimination, or harassment based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. This includes content that incites violence, spreads hate speech, or uses dehumanizing language to target individuals or groups. Material advocating for genocide, engaging in doxxing, or recruiting for hate groups is not allowed on our platform. While we support freedom of expression, beehiiv draws a clear line when content crosses into incitement of harm. We do not tolerate content that encourages violence or harassment, or any actions that could lead to significant harm or disruption. Additionally, any content that negatively affects email deliverability, such as causing ISP blocks, elevated spam complaints, or inclusion on blocklists will be addressed to maintain the health and integrity of our platform;
• Adult Content and Services - promotes explicit sexual content including images, videos, or written material that graphically describes sexual acts. This includes links to pornographic websites or adult subscription platforms (e.g., OnlyFans), as well, the promotion of escort services, adult webcam streams, sexually explicit chat services, or "swinger" events. Sexually explicit AI-generated or manipulated imagery, such as deepfakes, as well, non-consensual or exploitative sexual content is strictly prohibited. the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to established retail home-based party businesses;
  
  In addition, any material that exploits children under eighteen (18) years of age including non-consensual sex acts, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or content that is harmful to minors will be terminated immediately without notice. CSAM will be reported to law enforcement and/or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children;
• Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals: The promotion or sale of prescription medications, counterfeit drugs, or unapproved dietary supplements is strictly prohibited. This includes any content that makes claims to prevent, treat, or cure health conditions without prior authorization from the appropriate regulatory authorities. The distribution of experimental substances (such as peptides or SARMs), the use of misleading health related language (including unsubstantiated "natural" or "organic" claims), and participation in affiliate or referral programs that direct users to non-compliant or unlawful products are also not permitted;
• Cannabis and CBD Content - Promotion or facilitation of the sale of cannabis, CBD, THC, or related products is prohibited, including through direct e-commerce links or affiliate marketing. Content containing unverified health claims, marketing to minors, or material that misrepresents product legality, THC content, or geographic shipping availability is also prohibited. Cross-promotion with other high-risk substances (e.g., nootropics, kratom) within the same message is restricted.
  
  Educational, advocacy-based, or harm-reduction content may be permitted if it complies with applicable laws and does not violate these restrictions. Content that offers factual, research-backed information or advocates for legal reforms is allowed, as long as it does not promote sales or make unverified health claims;
• Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Content – Cryptocurrency and blockchain related content often involve high-risk financial products, speculative investments, and unregulated services. Due to the prevalence of scams, misleading claims, and compliance risks, beehiiv has established clear boundaries around prohibited content. This includes:
  
  
  • Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and token presales that promise guaranteed returns or unverified financial gains.
  • Unlicensed exchanges, wallets, or trading platforms that do not meet regulatory standards.
  • Crypto airdrops that send tokens directly to users' wallets
  • Crypto-based multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, Ponzi schemes, or referral-based earning programs.
  • Promotions of high-risk decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, yield farming, and staking programs with misleading or unsubstantiated financial claims.
  • Unregulated financial services, such as crypto lending or borrowing platforms, that do not comply with applicable laws.
  
  Educational and informational content regarding cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi) is allowed, provided it does not promote unregulated financial services or deceptive investment schemes and adheres to applicable laws and regulations. Users must ensure their content aligns with local regulations and refrains from deceptive, misleading, or fraudulent practices;
• Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, or Other Adult Content - The promotion or sale of alcohol, firearms, tobacco, gambling, and other adult oriented products is subject to strict regulation, with varying legal requirements based on age and geography. Users must implement age and/or geographic gating at the point of address collection to ensure recipients are of legal age to receive such content. Additionally, users may be required to provide proof of these mechanisms upon request, and must ensure that all content complies with the laws of the recipient's jurisdiction;
• High-Risk Financial Products and Services - beehiiv prohibits the following financially based products and services which include but are not limited to payday loans, payday advances, or other loan products offered under usurious terms; debt collection and forgiveness; credit repair and debt relief offerings; lottery promotions; and "get rich quick" schemes, including investment opportunities or other services that promise high rewards for little effort;
• Gambling and Sports Betting - Content that promotes or facilitates gambling in a way that violates laws, targets restricted audiences, or encourages irresponsible behavior is prohibited. This includes direct calls to action urging readers to place bets, referrals to unlicensed or offshore sportsbooks, exaggerated claims about guaranteed winnings, and affiliate links lacking proper disclaimers or responsible gaming measures. Content that glamorizes reckless betting, fails to meet age-gating requirements, or omits required legal and responsible gambling disclaimers will not be permitted on beehiiv, including within sponsored or ad placements.
  
  We do allow content focused on sports betting analysis, recommendations, and commentary, such as expert picks, odds breakdowns, or 'DraftKings style' insights, as long as it's editorial in nature and doesn't cross into unregulated promotion. Affiliate links to licensed sportsbooks and sponsored partnerships may also be permitted, but must comply with regional gambling laws and advertising regulations, include clear responsible gaming disclaimers, and promote betting in a lawful and ethical manner;
• Illegal Goods and Services - Including but not limited to counterfeit products produced to imitate genuine products without authorization, and pirated media: Unauthorized distribution or reproduction of copyrighted material, such as movies, music, or software.
• Problematic Products and Services – Content or activity that promotes pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses focused on recruitment or prospecting, email list brokering, sales, or exchange, deceptive lead generation schemes, or false employment opportunities intended to harvest personal data is prohibited. While the occasional use of affiliate links is allowed, newsletters created primarily for affiliate marketing or lead generation purposes are not permitted on beehiiv. This includes excessive or manipulative use of affiliate links solely for revenue generation, without adding genuine value to the content;

Beehiiv holds the exclusive right to interpret and enforce this AUP as we deem appropriate. While we may consult with outside counsel, industry experts, or academia in this process, the final determination remains with us.

If you come across content that may violate these guidelines, please let us know at abuse@beehiiv.com.

For all other questions, please email us at legal@beehiiv.com.

As this document is subject to change, we reserve the right to update these Content Guidelines at our discretion and without prior notice.