https://www.quora.com/What-does-a-deprecated-policy-mean
"Deprecated” is often encountered in information technology-related fields. In operating systems, programming and database languages and even some complex applications, many possible causes can cause the instantiation of an idea to be reconsidered. What seemed useful at one time is discovered to be cumbersome or restricting, as additional features and requirements change the product over time.
It is largely a given that software changes over time. Things rarely exist entirely alone, but are used by and referenced by other things customers or users may build, themselves. When something is deprecated, the maker or controlling standards body is notifying that this way of operating or interacting is becoming obsolete. More importantly, the day will come when some future version will not even allow the deprecated approach, but will reject it.
It may be helpful to think of dictionary definitions. A large, exhaustive dictionary may include a word that has become archaic, and warn of this. That is the spirit of deprecate. Using an archaic word limits the useful life of the text. Future readers are not going to understand what one meant. Somewhat more abridged dictionaries, in the future, will stop providing a definition at all.
“Policy” is a fairly high-level rule about how things are to be done. For example, the policy regarding mechandise returns is to only issue an in-store credit.
A well-phrased policy sets out an unambiguous statement of a rule, usually avoiding specifics of how or statement of measurable standards.
A deprecated policy would be a policy that remains, but is expected to be dropped as not applicable in the future. The possible reasons may include a transformation of a business or environment where the policy may refer to something that may not occur in the future, due to other changes.
