Sony has updated the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and privacy policies, introducing several new moderation, security, and account management provisions as part of Version 12 of the agreement released in April 2026.
One of the most significant additions involves expanded automated content monitoring. The updated terms now explicitly state that Sony actively targets illegal and harmful material including terrorism-related content, child exploitation, pornography, and material encouraging self-harm or eating disorders.
The policy also confirms that Sony uses automated moderation systems such as hash-matching technology and other detection tools to scan communications, uploaded content, and online activities for profanity, hateful language, spam, and malicious URLs.
Alongside the moderation updates, Sony has also formalized a clearer appeals process for account enforcement actions. Under the revised terms, permanently suspended users in eligible countries can submit appeals through PlayStation’s official suspension support portal.
The company states that reviews will be handled in a “timely, non-discriminatory, diligent and objective manner,” while also noting that account actions may be reversed if mistakes are identified and technical restoration is possible.
The updated agreement additionally places stricter legal responsibility on Family Managers overseeing child accounts. According to the revised wording, adults who raise a child account’s spending limit above the default $0 setting are legally confirming that the child understands online purchases and that the adult agrees to cover all charges made within that approved limit.
Sony has also modernized its security language to officially include passkeys as an approved authentication method alongside traditional passwords and passcodes. The changes extend across PlayStation’s broader ecosystem, with the definition of “Authorised Systems” now covering the PlayStation Mobile App, PC services, and approved third-party platforms in addition to consoles and handheld hardware.
Several longstanding PSN policies remain unchanged in the updated agreement. Sony continues to state that digital purchases are licensed rather than owned outright, the minimum PSN account age remains 7 years old with parental supervision requirements for minors, and subscription price increases still require a 60-day advance notice before automatic renewal charges are adjusted.
