Square Enix Unveils Policy to Shield Staff from Toxic Fans

Summary

• Square Enix has implemented a comprehensive anti-harassment policy to safeguard its employees and partners.
• The policy clearly defines harassment, including acts such as threats of violence, defamation, and sexual harassment.
• Square Enix reserves the right to deny services and pursue legal action against individuals engaging in harassment.

Square Enix has recently announced a robust anti-harassment policy aimed at protecting its employees and partners from abusive behavior. This policy meticulously outlines what constitutes harassment and the actions Square Enix will take if such behavior is encountered from its customers.

In today's interconnected world, threats and harassment against individuals in the gaming industry have unfortunately become commonplace. This issue is not unique to Square Enix; notable examples include death threats against the actress portraying Abby in The Last of Us 2, and Nintendo's cancellation of a live event due to threats from a so-called Splatoon fan. In response, Square Enix is taking decisive steps to shield its staff from similar threats.

The policy, detailed on the Square Enix website, firmly stands against harassment directed at everyone from support staff to executives. While Square Enix values feedback from its fans and customers, it categorically states that harassment is unacceptable. The policy provides a clear definition of what constitutes harassment and outlines the company's response to such incidents.

Square Enix defines harassment as including threats of violence, defamation, obstruction of business, trespassing, and more. The document specifies behaviors that exceed the bounds of normal customer feedback. If such behavior is detected, Square Enix reserves the right to deny services to the offending individuals. In cases of "malicious intent," the company may pursue legal action or involve law enforcement to protect its staff.

Square Enix Anti-Harassment Policy

Harassment:

• Acts of violence or violent behavior
• Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, duress, excessive pursuit, or reprimand
• Defamation/slander, denial of personality, personal attacks (including via email, contact forms, comments, or posts on the internet), threats of wrongdoing, or obstruction of business
• Persistent inquiries, repeated visits
• Trespassing by visiting or staying in an office or related facility without permission
• Unlawful restraint through telephone calls and online inquiries
• Discriminatory speech and conduct related to race, ethnicity, religion, family origin, occupation, etc.
• Infringement of privacy by taking unauthorized pictures or video recordings
• Sexual harassment, stalking, repeated stalking behavior

Undue Demand:

• Unreasonable requests for product changes, exchanges, or monetary compensation
• Unreasonable demands for apologies, including face-to-face requests or specifying the position of employees or partners
• Excessive requests for products and services beyond socially accepted norms
• Unreasonable and excessive demands for the punishment of employees

Unfortunately, such policies have become necessary for developers like Square Enix due to increasing incidents of harassment. Some gamers have directed angry and threatening messages towards various members of the game development industry, including voice actors and performers. Recent cases include the voice actor for Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail, Sena Bryer, who faced extreme backlash from transphobic individuals due to her gender identity. Looking back, Square Enix received multiple death threats against its staff in 2018, which led to an arrest in 2019 over threats related to gacha mechanics. Additionally, Square Enix had to cancel a tournament in 2019 due to similar threats, akin to those faced by Nintendo recently.