(Photo : Square Enix, Yuichi YAMAZAKI, AFP / Screenshot taken from Getty Images)
Square Enix announced that it is launching a new anti-harassment policy that would work to protect the company's employees from so-called "abusive" fans.
The new policy details how the studio could pursue legal action against individuals who conduct any form of harassment to its workers. The new policy highlights that feedback is crucial to the "advancement" of the company's products and services.
Square Enix's New Anti-Harassment Policy
However, the studio noted that anything that could be constituted as harassment will no longe be tolerated moving forward. Square Enix said that there have been instances where some customers took actions directly or through its support centers or towards its employees.
These were apparently things that constitute "customer harassment," including denial of personality, violence, defamation, intimidation, and others. Square Enix said that these actions prevent its employees and partners from engaging in their work with a sense of security.
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In addition, they also cause disruptions to other customers of the company. Square Enix said that if customers become abusive or initiate harassment against its employees, it has entrenched the right to "cease providing support services or retrain providing [Square Enix's] products and services" to these individuals, according to Games Hub.
Furthermore, the company reserved the right to protect its workers and partners by taking legal action or criminal proceedings upon "consulting the police and/or lawyers." Square Enix also went on to define various behaviors that would constitute employee harassment.
Right To Pursue Legal Action
These include acts of violence or violent behavior, abusive language, defamation, and many others. Furthermore, the studio barred undue demands, such as unreasonable changes or exchange of products, or requests for monetary compensation, among others.
The document that listed the behaviors that constitute employee harassment were actions that the studio deems to "exceed socially acceptable behavior." Many people agreed that they were things that any reasonable individual would understand to actually be harassment or unacceptable behavior, The Gamer said.
The new policy comes as Square Enix has what many call a voracious fan base that has led to a much more toxic environment in most cases. It seems like the situation has become so severe that the studio itself has gone public to warn against such behaviors.
One example of the issue came last year when "Final Fantasy XIV" introduced Wuk Lamat with the Dawntrail expansion. The voice actor for the character was trans and received criticism from fans not for the writing but directed at the voice actress and the localization team, according to CBR.
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