Square Enix Creates New Policy To Protect Employees From Toxic Fans

Square Enix Unveils Robust Anti-Harassment Policy to Protect Employees and Partners

Square Enix has proactively introduced a comprehensive anti-harassment policy designed to safeguard its employees and collaborators. This policy clearly defines unacceptable behavior, encompassing a range of actions from threats of violence to defamation. The company asserts its right to deny services and pursue legal action against individuals engaging in harassment.

The policy's implementation underscores the growing need for such measures within the gaming industry. Online harassment has become increasingly prevalent, targeting individuals across various roles, from actors to developers. Notable instances include death threats against the actress portraying Abby in The Last of Us Part II and the cancellation of a Nintendo event due to violence threats.

Square Enix's policy, detailed on its website, explicitly protects all staff, from support personnel to executives. While encouraging fan feedback, the company firmly states that harassment is unacceptable. The policy outlines specific behaviors deemed harassing, including:

Harassment Defined:

• Acts of violence or violent threats
• Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, excessive pursuit, or reprimands
• Defamation, slander, personal attacks (across all online platforms), and threats of business disruption
• Persistent inquiries or repeated unwanted contact
• Trespassing on company property
• Unlawful restraint through calls or online communication
• Discriminatory speech or conduct based on race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
• Privacy violations (unauthorized photography or recording)
• Sexual harassment and stalking

Undue Demands:

• Unreasonable product exchanges or monetary demands
• Unreasonable apology requests (especially those targeting specific employees)
• Excessive service requests beyond acceptable norms
• Unreasonable demands for employee punishment

Square Enix's decisive action is a necessary response to the escalating problem of online harassment in the gaming community. Recent incidents, such as the transphobic attacks against the voice actor for Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, highlight the severity of this issue. Past experiences, including death threats against Square Enix staff in 2018 and the cancellation of a tournament in 2019 due to similar threats, further underscore the importance of this policy. The company's commitment to protecting its workforce is evident in its willingness to pursue legal action against those who engage in malicious harassment.