Square Enix enacts new harassment policy to protect staff as social media goes lax

Square Enix won't provide support if you're mean or harmful.

Square Enix has enacted a new Group Customer Harassment Policy that is meant to protect staff from harmful customers.

“There are instances where certain customers take actions directly or through our support centers, or towards our group executives, employees, partners who are involved in the creation and distribution of our group products and services, that constitute ‘customer harassment,’ such as denial of personality, violence, defamation, intimidation, advance notice of wrongdoing, advance notice of obstruction of business, harassment,” Square Enix said as part of its policy.

“Such actions do not only prevent our employees and partners from engaging in their work with a sense of security but also causes disruptions to other customers. Square Enix will not tolerate harassment and will take action as necessary.”

The policy lists specific examples of harassment or undue demand, where Square Enix may “reserve our right to cease providing support services or to refrain from providing our group’s products and services.”

This new Square Enix policy comes at the same time social media giant Meta has relaxed its own Hateful Conduct policies on posting.

Meta’s policy removes restrictions against dehumanising people over protected characteristics on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. Those characteristics are are defined by the company as “race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, [or] serious disease.”