Bots are rampant on Spriggan (EU)

[KageTokage]

Square Enix is not entirely able to do this. these websites have actual protection by setting their policy/terms to disallow SE employees, and the like, access to the site. they can still access the site, but would be immediately violating the terms of these sites.

SE themselves are not allowed to touch the websites, or bots/services provided. Square Enix would have to hire freelancers.

I really doubt that having a silly ToS statement like that is enough to protect a website conducting illegal activities from the companies who'd be concerned about them. Violating the terms of a website means nothing if it doesn't have a legal team to defend/enforce those terms, and even if they do a company as big as SE could crush them if they wanted to (Though the biggest issue as always is the "if" part because large companies are also generally not going to waste their time with legal matters that serve to benefit them little).

Still, even if you purge a website manufacturing bots, said programs are going to remain in circulation and continue being spread and maintained regardless so it's really best for a MMO to just have a competent enforcement team banning the less persistent types of bots with regularity and taking lasting measures to prevent the more persistent ones like RMT bots from functioning.