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 workforce and collaborators. This policy clearly defines unacceptable behavior, encompassing threats of violence, defamation, and other forms of harassment. The company asserts its right to deny services and pursue legal action against individuals engaging in such conduct.

The policy's implementation reflects a growing concern within the gaming industry regarding online harassment. High-profile incidents, such as death threats against actors and the cancellation of events due to threats of violence, underscore the need for such protective measures. Square Enix's proactive stance aims to prevent similar situations from impacting its employees and partners.

The policy, detailed on the Square Enix website, covers a broad spectrum of harassment, including:

Harassment Examples:

• Acts of violence or threats of violence.
• Abusive language, intimidation, coercion, and undue pressure.
• Defamation, slander, personal attacks (across various online platforms), and threats of business disruption.
• Persistent and intrusive inquiries or repeated visits.
• Unauthorized entry onto company property.
• Unlawful restraint through phone calls or online means.
• Discriminatory remarks or actions based on race, ethnicity, religion, origin, profession, etc.
• Privacy violations such as unauthorized photography or video recording.
• Sexual harassment and stalking.

Undue Demands Examples:

• Unreasonable product exchanges or demands for monetary compensation.
• Excessive requests for apologies, particularly those targeting specific employees or partners.
• Requests for products or services exceeding reasonable norms.
• Unreasonable and excessive demands for employee punishment.

This policy is a necessary response to the increasing prevalence of online harassment targeting game developers. Recent examples include the targeted harassment of voice actors, such as Sena Bryer, the voice of Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail expansion. Past incidents involving Square Enix include death threats against staff in 2018, leading to an arrest in 2019, and the cancellation of a tournament in 2019 due to similar threats. This new policy demonstrates Square Enix's commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for its team.