1. Square Enix is actively taking legal action against cyberbullying and harassment towards its staff and executives related to Final Fantasy 14.
2. The company has successfully settled cases involving the removal of harmful videos and the shutdown of harassment-promoting websites.
3. The company’s efforts highlight the importance of protecting its staff from personal attacks, defamation, and threats, emphasizing its stance against online harassment.
Recent Crackdown on Cyberbullying by Square Enix
Square Enix has been very serious recently about stopping cyberbullying, especially involving their popular game Final Fantasy 14. They took legal steps against a person making videos that insulted staff members, which is a big deal. This is not just a one-time thing, it’s actually the second incident in just a few weeks, showing how much they care about protecting their team.
Legal Actions and Settlements
On April 20, Square Enix made a statement explaining they found a user on a video platform posting many harmful videos. The videos hurt the reputation of their employees and project leaders. The company then asked the court to look into it, and they managed to get the person’s identity. The result was a settlement where the uploader agreed to apologize, pay money, and promised not to do similar things again. The court granted the request, and now the videos and account are all gone.
Company’s Stand Against Harassment
In their official message, Square Enix said they really value what their fans say but see harassment and threats against their staff as serious problems. These include personal attacks, spreading false information, threats, and even trying to stop their work from continuing smoothly. They emphasized that such actions threaten the safety of their staff and create a negative atmosphere, making it hard for them to work peacefully.
Previous Cases and Similar Incidents
Just a few weeks before, in March, they also filed a lawsuit against a Japanese blog called Netoge Sokuho, which used to be known as FF14 Sokuho. The blog was accused of posting articles that went beyond normal criticism and became harassment. Square Enix pushed to identify the person behind the blog and reached an agreement that included shutting down the website and issuing a public apology. Additionally, another blog called Umadori Sokuho decided to close voluntarily, stating they felt responsible for spreading information online and apologized to the team of Final Fantasy 14 for any trouble caused.