We want SoundCloud to be a community where everyone feels empowered but also safe and respected. It’s up to all of us to make that happen. This page includes important information about our rules and guidelines related to your use of SoundCloud and applies to all types of content on the platform, including images, playlists, comments, messages, bio, descriptions, username, track/playlist titles etc. Please take the time to carefully read through this information; we take these guidelines seriously and expect you to do the same.
Our guidelines are organized by topic area and the examples in the below sections on what is/is not allowed are for illustrative purposes only and are not exhaustive. SoundCloud reserves the right to remove any content deemed to violate our Terms of Use and/or these guidelines at our discretion. For more information about how we moderate and enforce against any violative content, please refer to our Content Moderation and Enforcement Policies.
We have always set out to build a diverse, collaborative community where the rights of creators are respected.
You are responsible for all activity associated with your account, including all content that you post. If you post content that belongs to someone else (for example, if you are a distributor, promotional agency, manager, or radio plugger acting on behalf of an artist or label), or if you use someone else’s content in a remix or other similar work, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the permission of all relevant rightsholders to post that content to SoundCloud. Anyone uploading another person’s content without the necessary permissions is liable to have that content removed and/or their account terminated.
When reporting content for infringement, we consider reports abusive if you are not the rightsholder or an authorized agent thereof (like the rightsholder’s attorney or manager). Abusive reporting may result in your civil liability for damages incurred by SoundCloud (including costs and legal fees), the person whose content you report, or any copyright owner or authorized licensee as a result of content being removed. Additionally, you risk having your account frozen or, in some cases, terminated if we believe that you have abusively reported content. If you do not own the copyright in the content, please do not report it for infringement.
If you are unsure whether you can upload something, read our copyright information pages. If you feel that someone is infringing your copyright, tell us about it.
Criticism should always focus on the content, and not on the personal character of the individual who created it. Please share your opinion with others but do so in a constructive way. Before posting feedback, always ask yourself whether you would appreciate receiving the same feedback. If not, don’t post it.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We have zero tolerance for abusive or threatening behavior within the community and on the platform. We consider abuse to be any activity where the intent or likely result is to attack or demean someone else. This includes, but is not limited to, content aimed at sexualizing or degrading other users. Anyone found to be engaging in this type of activity risks the immediate, permanent termination of their account.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We define harassment as the unwanted, continued pursuit of contact with an individual who has indicated they do not wish to be in contact with another individual. The difference between abuse and harassment is that harassment is typically conducted over a sustained period of time, whereas abuse may be a one-off event. Therefore, if an individual is sending repeated unwanted messages or comments to another user, they risk the immediate, permanent termination of their account.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We do not allow the sharing of personal details or sensitive information of another person (or entity), without their permission. This includes recordings of private conversations, full names, photographs, unlisted phone numbers, and home or email addresses.
Do this:
Don't do this:
As a platform built with creator needs in mind, we welcome the use of stage names or professional identities on SoundCloud. However, you cannot impersonate or misrepresent yourself as another person or post information or content that is intentionally misleading.
You must not create profiles or post content that is intended to make people think you are someone else. You must not use someone else’s name or trademark without their permission, or pretend to be associated with someone you aren’t, even if you feel that you are helping that person by doing so. This applies to everyone from the most popular creators to casual users on SoundCloud.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We do not allow any content that is predominantly sexual in nature or that could be perceived as an aid to sexual gratification. This includes, but is not limited to, images or recordings containing nudity or detailed descriptions of sexual acts, or links to pornographic sites.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We do not allow any child exploitation and SoundCloud has no place for any kind of content, behavior or accounts that might exploit or endanger children, or which displays or promotes child sexual exploitation. A child is any person under the age of 18.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We do not allow any content, including but not limited to images, podcasts, or text, on SoundCloud that shows or promotes suicide, self-injury, eating disorders, or substance abuse.
Do this:
Don't do this:
At SoundCloud we strictly prohibit the dissemination of terrorist content and are committed to its prompt removal from the platform. While we take into consideration UN, US and EU lists of terrorist designated organizations, we also follow and enforce the details Pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/784 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
SoundCloud takes proactive measures to combat the dissemination of terrorist content on our platform, including partnering with a third party vendor specializing in the detection and removal of terrorist content. Through leveraging various technologies, this vendor both automates the removal of the most obviously violative content and empowers our Trust & Safety team to keep users safe by flagging other possibly violative content for further review. In addition to proactive measures, we also operate a simple to use and robust complaints procedure to enforce these policies:
User Reported Content:
We encourage you to report any content or behavior that may violate our policies against terrorism. Any user reported terrorist content which is subsequently categorized as such following review is considered to be an urgent request and is removed as a priority. We ensure to carry out our review process as soon as possible, in line with relevant statutory requirements.
Reported Content from National Authorities:
We are also committed to prioritizing the review and removal of any and all terrorist content reported to us through a removal order from any EU Member State’s National Competent Authority. Removal orders are separated/filtered and promptly addressed according to relevant law enforcement requirements.
SoundCloud maintains its stance on prohibiting and removing the dissemination of any terrorist content either reported or proactively detected as terrorist content from both its users and law enforcement. SoundCloud is committed to monitoring and reviewing its moderation processes on a regular on-going basis to ensure their effectiveness and alignment in compliance with current valid regulations.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We do not allow any use of intimidation or threats of violence between our users, against the wider public or against SoundCloud employees. Likewise, we don’t permit any incitement to, or glorification of, violent acts either against an individual or the wider public. Additionally, the use of excessive gore in regard to both imagery and language is not permitted.
Do this:
Don't do this:
SoundCloud allows for the presentation of individual beliefs and opinions. We do not, however, allow behavior or content that promotes or encourages hatred, discrimination or violence against others based on race, cultural identity or ethnic background, religious beliefs, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We will use our discretion when necessary to determine if beliefs or opinions incite hatred. Please keep in mind that applicable laws state that Nazi and ISIS content is illegal, and will be removed without discussion, unless clearly used for educational or journalistic purposes.
Do this:
Don't do this:
We understand that SoundCloud is a popular platform to host podcasts, and we welcome those who chose to use our platform for that reason. We invite the discussion and expression of our users’ opinions on almost all given topics. With that being said, we reserve the right to decide when those discussions, expressions and opinions are aimed at harming a group of individuals, or when they cross over into hate speech, abuse, or misinformation. In these instances, users risk deletion of certain episodes or suspension of their account. We also do not allow podcasts associated with any illegal or hate groups, even when the content itself does not violate our Terms of Use.
Do this:
Don't do this:
As a platform that promotes freedom of speech and connects millions of people, we feel we have a responsibility to take a clear stance on the issue of misinformation. Although not a new concept, the digital age has made it easier than ever to spread information almost anywhere in the world.
We understand that in today’s day and age many people rely on the internet and social platforms as their main news source. Therefore, to maintain the trust and safety of our community, the use of false, fabricated or manipulated information is something we do not condone, especially when presented as fact and when posing a potential threat or allowing for long term harm to the wellbeing of both our user base and society at large. This type of information can take many forms but is often uploaded with the aim of affecting political discourse.
Furthermore, we feel we must be explicit in stating we do not under any circumstances allow the posting or sharing of harmful ideologies that misinform the public, such as those that deny the occurrence of violent events, or those that target an individual or protected group by inciting fear, hate or prejudice. Any user whose content may be deemed in violation of our Terms of Use may be subject to the immediate, permanent termination of their account. We encourage you to ensure the accuracy of your content, as each user is solely responsible for what they upload. With that all being said, we do encourage you to offer and discuss your opinion with others should it be very clearly presented as such and kept in line with the rest of these guidelines.
Do this:
Don't do this:
SoundCloud aims to help creators connect directly with their fans and build their audience. We understand that promoting your work is important, and we encourage you to seek out fans and other like-minded individuals. In our experience, the most successful forms of promotion are built upon meaningful interactions between creators and their audience.
However, there is a fine line between developing these connections and over-sharing with members of the community. To help encourage a two-way relationship between creators and fans, we have technical restrictions in place to limit activity that goes against this principle. Further, we aim for SoundCloud to be a spam-free zone. To support this effort, we have policies in place that prohibit both spammy activity and the use of related services that violate our Terms of Use.
Specifically, it is not possible to:
Do this:
Don't do this:
We aim to create and foster a community where our users’ behavior is in line with these guidelines and where individuals hold each other accountable for their use of the platform. When this fails, we also have various measures in place to help us keep track of certain kinds of content that violate our Terms of Use.
That said, if you encounter any content that clearly violates these guidelines or our Terms of Use or is otherwise illegal – including impersonation, abusive or threatening behavior, pornography, or malicious speech – please report this.
Our Trust and Safety Team will review all reports objectively and remove any content that violates our Terms of Use, these guidelines or applicable law. To report content please do so using the appropriate Help Form from our Help Center or through our on-site reporting buttons.
Please bear in mind that something you find unacceptable, may not be a violation of our Terms of Use or illegal. We try to maintain a fair and balanced approach but reporting content will not always result in that content being removed if it does not violate our guidelines, Terms of Use or applicable law.
For more information about filing reports, moderation, and enforcement, please refer to our Content Moderation and Enforcement Policies.
If we believe that your activity violates these guidelines, our Terms of Use, any other associated policies, or applicable law, we will send you a written warning to the email associated with the account and a statement of reasons. If we send you more than two of these warnings, we may suspend or terminate your account at our discretion.
In certain cases, such as when we deem your account to be dedicated to the violating activity, we reserve the right to terminate your account immediately, without prior warning, at our discretion. On suspension or termination of your account you will be notified with a statement of reasons and given the possibility to dispute.
For more information about how we enforce our policies and the actions we may take against you, please refer to our Terms of Use, as well as our Content Moderation and Enforcement Policies.
Last Amended: February 7, 2024