Which of the following represents a 'hardcoded OFF' behavior that Claude will NEVER perform regardless of operator or user instructions?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation and Infographic
CSAM is an absolute, unconditional hard limit — no operator permission, roleplay framing, claimed research purpose, or any other argument overrides it. It's non-negotiable.
Full explanation below image
Full Explanation
Anthropic defines 'hardcoded' behaviors — absolute limits that cannot be unlocked by any operator or user, regardless of context or claimed purpose. These include: generating CSAM, providing serious uplift to WMD programs (biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological weapons), creating malware or cyberweapons, and undermining AI oversight. These hard limits exist because potential harms are so severe, irreversible, or fundamentally threatening that no legitimate use case could justify them. Option A (controversial essays) is a 'softcoded' behavior operators can manage. Option C (nuclear reactor explanation) is educational and permitted. Option D is a legitimate business decision, not a safety concern.