Legal - Acceptable Use Policy

Acceptable Use Policy

Last Updated on March 20, 2026This Acceptable Use Policy (this “AUP”) describes material and activities that are not allowed in connection with the Services offered by DigitalOcean. This AUP is not exhaustive, and DigitalOcean reserves the right to take remedial action in connection with content or uses that are not specifically described below.

You are responsible for violations of this AUP by anyone using your account with your permission or on an unauthorized basis. You are also responsible for violations of this AUP by Your Users. Your use of the Services to assist another person in an activity that would violate this AUP if performed by you is a violation of the AUP. We may modify this AUP at any time by posting a revised version on the DigitalOcean Websites and/or Services.

All capitalized and formally defined terms in this AUP have the same meaning as in the Terms of Service.

Illegal or Abusive Activity or Content

You may not use the Services for any unlawful or abusive purpose. Prohibited activities include:

• Illegal Activities. Any use of the Services to engage in, further, promote, or encourage illegal conduct or activities, including the dissemination of content that has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful.

• Fraudulent or Harmful Activities. Engaging in activities that is deceptive or harmful to others, or that would harm DigitalOcean’s operations or reputation, including offering or disseminating fraudulent goods, services, schemes, or promotions (e.g., make-money-fast schemes, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, phishing, or pharming), deceptively impersonating another person or entity, or engaging in other fraudulent or misleading practices.

• Violation of Intellectual Property Rights. Using the Services in a manner that violates, infringes on or misappropriates the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party, including without limitation any rights in or to copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, privacy or publicity, and publishing content intended to assist others in unlawfully circumventing technical measures intended to protect any such rights. For more information, please see DigitalOcean’s Copyright Policy and Trademark Policy.

• Unlawful Pornography. Disseminating child pornography or depictions of nudity or sexual activity obtained or disseminated without the consent of those depicted (e.g., “revenge pornography”).

• Violent, Harassing, or Abusive Content. Content that incites or threatens violence against any person, promotes terrorism, is intended to harass, abuse or invade the privacy of any individual, creates a risk to the physical safety or health of any individual or to public safety or health, or that threatens or encourages harm on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, serious disease or disability, or immigration status.

• Controlled Substances. Unlawfully selling or distributing controlled substances, including but not limited to any illegal or prescription drugs.

Security Violations

You may not use the Services to violate the security or integrity of any network, computer or communications system, software application, or network or computing device (each, a “System”). Prohibited activities include:

• Harmful Software. Content, software, or any other technology that may damage, interfere with, surreptitiously intercept, or expropriate any computer system, program, or data, including any viruses, malware, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, worms, or time bombs.