--- title: "ZCode | Ethical Stack" url: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/ catalog_version: f6baff2119d0e9158520da7fbe4232011dac79f25bd08757436d7a1dbd593db2 --- # ZCode Z.ai’s coding assistant with model and provider configuration for programming work. Canonical profile: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/ Scope: ZCode coding client and Z.ai Coding Plan/API routes documented in its setup guide; other providers retain their own terms. Published overall: 3.5; 4/6 dimensions rated. Round the equal-weight mean of available numerical ratings to one decimal; require at least four of six for an overall score. BDS status stays outside the mean; for eligible profiles, a boycott target caps the final score at 2/10 and a pressure target subtracts one point (minimum 1). Not listed and not checked do not adjust the score. ## Energy practices Finding: 3/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#energy Public docs establish the ZCode coding client and configured model route route; they do not establish its request-level physical footprint. ZCode documents model selection and Coding Plan quotas; these provide workload choice and usage ceilings, though no energy savings are measured. Reason: 1 + 1 reporting + 0 electricity + 1 controls = 3/10. This grades documented practices and transparency. Argument: This practices and disclosure grade covers ZCode coding client and configured model route. Public product/API documentation establishes how this route operates and the listed user controls, but gives no measured per-request energy, emissions or water. A corporate electricity claim is not allocated to this route. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): ZCode coding client and configured model route Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Request-level electricity, emissions, water use, serving utilization and any route-specific clean-power matching are not reported for ZCode coding client and configured model route. ```json { "method": "practices-transparency-v1", "scope": "ZCode coding client and configured model route", "components": { "disclosure": { "score": 1, "reason": "Official documentation describes the ZCode coding client and configured model route operating boundary, but does not publish a dated quantitative energy, emissions or water result for this route.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration" ] }, "electricity": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed sources do not map ZCode coding client and configured model route to a site-specific electricity mix or time-matched clean-power supply.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration" ] }, "demand": { "score": 1, "reason": "ZCode documents model selection and Coding Plan quotas; these provide workload choice and usage ceilings, though no energy savings are measured.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration" ] } }, "actualImpactMeasured": false } ``` - [ZCode model and provider configuration](https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Training data Finding: Depends on the model Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#training-rights Model choice and endpoint can vary between Z.ai Coding Plan and API routes; evaluate the selected GLM model separately for corpus provenance and rights. Reason: Model choice and endpoint can vary between Z.ai Coding Plan and API routes; evaluate the selected GLM model separately for corpus provenance and rights. Argument: The coding client routes prompts to the selected hosted model service. Its setup documentation identifies distinct plan and API endpoints but does not identify the corpus, permissions, or creator remedies for the selected GLM version. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): ZCode coding client and Z.ai Coding Plan/API routes documented in its setup guide; other providers retain their own terms. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Selected model/version, endpoint, training corpus, permissions, and prompt data handling vary by configured route. ```json { "method": "training-rights-evidence-v1", "scope": "The stated training release or selected model", "components": null, "routeDependency": "Model choice and endpoint can vary between Z.ai Coding Plan and API routes; evaluate the selected GLM model separately for corpus provenance and rights.", "modelReference": null } ``` - [ZCode model and provider configuration](https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai API Reference](https://docs.z.ai/api-reference) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Your data & privacy Finding: Not enough evidence Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#privacy ZCode can use Z.ai account-based Coding Plan or API-key routes; the general individual policy does not establish the data terms for every coding route. Reason: Multiple coding-plan and API routes have different terms; the applicable data policy was not established for every option. Argument: The ZCode setup documentation distinguishes plan authentication, API keys, and coding endpoints. The linked Z.ai individual policy does not establish retention for business/API coding requests, and no separate ZCode-specific data-processing terms were verified; a privacy score would blur those routes. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (profile): ZCode coding client and Z.ai Coding Plan/API routes documented in its setup guide; other providers retain their own terms. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: The selected endpoint, plan type, API DPA, prompt retention, and optional coding context collection need checking in current settings. - [ZCode model and provider configuration](https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai Privacy Policy for Individual Users](https://chat.z.ai/legal-agreement/privacy-policy) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Openness Finding: 3/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#openness A hosted coding agent/client with configurable models; the service runtime and plan backend remain hosted. Reason: Configurable model interface; hosted product runtime is not offered as self-hostable in reviewed sources. Argument: ZCode exposes setup, model selection, and provider configuration in its official documentation, but the reviewed sources do not provide the full service runtime for self-hosting. This covers the hosted coding client and plan, not GLM open weights. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): ZCode coding client and Z.ai Coding Plan/API routes documented in its setup guide; other providers retain their own terms. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Other providers configured in ZCode have separate openness, privacy, and licensing terms. - [ZCode model and provider configuration](https://zcode.z.ai/en/docs/configuration) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai Privacy Policy for Individual Users](https://chat.z.ai/legal-agreement/privacy-policy) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai API Reference](https://docs.z.ai/api-reference) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai Terms of Use](https://chat.z.ai/legal-agreement/terms-of-service) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Worker protections Finding: 1/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#labour Z.ai’s company and GLM model materials reviewed do not establish employment protections, worker voice, supplier labor standards or labor assurance. Reason: 1 + 0 pay & conditions + 0 worker voice & remedy + 0 evidence & follow-through = 1/10. This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment. Argument: The sources reviewed provide product, terms, or corporate information but no qualifying disclosure about conditions for data annotators, evaluators, moderators, or infrastructure workers. This is a disclosure gap within the checked materials, not evidence that workers are mistreated or that no labor policy exists. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to ZCode; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (dimension): JINGSHENG HENGXING TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. (Z.ai): the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of ZCode. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Worker counts, locations, pay, labor protections, worker voice mechanisms, supplier coverage, and independent audit or remediation outcomes were not established in the sources reviewed. ```json { "method": "worker-safeguards-evidence-v1", "entity": "zhipu", "company": "Zhipu AI / Z.ai", "scope": "Zhipu AI / Z.ai's workforce and disclosed contractors. Coverage of individual product teams may be incomplete.", "components": { "conditions": { "score": 0, "reason": "Reviewed sources provide no qualifying disclosure of worker conditions; this zero is limited to the checked material and is not an exhaustive claim.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] }, "voice": { "score": 0, "reason": "No qualifying worker-voice mechanism or documented worker grievance outcomes were disclosed in the reviewed material.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] }, "assurance": { "score": 0, "reason": "No independent labor audit results, worker-level corroboration, or remediation outcomes were disclosed in the reviewed material.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true, "meaning": "This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment." } ``` - [Z.ai company and GLM model overview](https://z.ai/company) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai model releases](https://huggingface.co/zai-org) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [glm-5-3 official license](https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Military ties Finding: 7/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#military-contracts No Z.ai defense contract or deployment is identified; legacy ChatGLM2 restrictions are not generalized to current GLM models. Reason: 7 base + 0 safeguard adjustment = 7/10 (0 of 9 safeguard points; every 3 adds 1). No military relationship was established in the cited sources. This ranks above known defense ties without claiming a verified clean record. Argument: Z.ai’s current company and GLM-5.3 materials reviewed do not establish a defense contract or military deployment. A military-purpose clause in a separate legacy ChatGLM2 license is not generalized to GLM-5.3 or the company; no relevant restriction is credited without model-specific evidence. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to ZCode; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (dimension): JINGSHENG HENGXING TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. (Z.ai): the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of ZCode. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Complete contract texts, undisclosed customers, end-use restrictions, actual workload deployment, and independent compliance or outcome reports are unavailable in the reviewed public material. ```json { "method": "military-ties-priority-v2", "entity": "zhipu", "company": "Zhipu AI / Z.ai", "scope": "Zhipu AI / Z.ai's relationships and safeguards. A company relationship does not identify every product or release used.", "components": { "restrictions": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed terms or policy material contains no qualifying military-use restriction beyond general lawfulness/export compliance; this zero is limited to the reviewed source set.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] }, "oversight": { "score": 0, "reason": "No military-specific review, enforcement, or remedy mechanism was disclosed in the sources reviewed.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] }, "transparency": { "score": 0, "reason": "No military-specific relationship or military-specific transparency policy was disclosed in the materials reviewed; this is a scoped disclosure finding.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://z.ai/company", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org", "https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE" ] } }, "relationship": "not-established", "relationshipReason": "The reviewed Z.ai company and model materials do not identify a defense contract or military deployment. A ChatGLM2 model license contains a military-purpose restriction, but that legacy model-specific license is not treated as a blanket current company policy.", "score": 7, "baseScore": 7, "safeguardPoints": 0, "safeguardAdjustment": 0, "rawScore": 7, "cap": null, "disclosureLimited": true, "meaning": "Known military relationships take priority over missing safeguards. The rating does not establish the probability of an undisclosed contract." } ``` - [Z.ai company and GLM model overview](https://z.ai/company) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Z.ai model releases](https://huggingface.co/zai-org) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [glm-5-3 official license](https://huggingface.co/zai-org/GLM-5.3/blob/main/LICENSE) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## BDS targets Finding: Not listed Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/harnesses/zai-code/#israel-palestine We did not find Z.ai among the named targets in the two official BNC campaign lists checked on 2026-10-23. This is a limited list check, not BDS approval. Reason: BDS campaign status is a factual category, not a 1–10 ethical rating. Argument: Z.ai is not a named target in the checked lists, but BDS uses selective campaigns, so absence cannot establish a clean record. Running downloaded weights locally is a different decision from paying the developer or a cloud host; check the host as well. This entry carries the same developer/operator finding to ZCode; it does not establish that this product was deployed under every cited relationship. Type: evidence; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): JINGSHENG HENGXING TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. (Z.ai): the documented developer/operator record, not proof of deployment of ZCode. Research reviewed: 2026-10-23; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: This review covers the named targets in the BNC consumer/pressure guide and No Tech campaign, not every BDS campaign, local group, investment or supplier. Lists and ownership can change. A company’s absence from these lists is not an endorsement or proof that it has no relevant relationships. - [BNC target list (not checked for this company)](https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott) (campaign; checked 2026-10-24) - [BNC target list (not checked for this company)](https://bdsmovement.net/no-tech-oppression-apartheid-or-genocide) (campaign; checked 2026-10-24) ## Reading the evidence - Assessments are provisional editorial judgments. Cite the profile and the underlying sources, and retain confidence, scope and unknowns. - Unknown, not-applicable and model-dependent are different states. Missing evidence does not establish good or bad conduct. - Company-level evidence does not establish use of a particular product or model. Account plan, model, host and route can change an assessment. - Energy scores describe documented practices and transparency, not measured request emissions. Zero component points can mean an evidence gap. - Published overall scores require at least four of six numerical dimensions. Preserve coverage and BDS adjustments; BDS itself is categorical. - No named BDS target found is limited to the reviewed campaign sources and is not approval. Personalized priorities do not change the published overall score. - Review and source-check dates describe the research, not this deployment. Fetch current primary sources when the decision requires current verification. Methodology: https://ethicalstack.ai/methodology/