Petition for policy change.

[Garnorix]

Here recently a friend of mine (a 13y/o female) came to me with information regarding another person we know actively engaging in ERP with her. He pushed the matter and convinced her to do so through means of manipulation. She came to me in hopes that i could assist her in getting the issue resolved. She wont come forward herself out of fear of retaliation. Since then i've tried to report the issue to Square-enix myself and they straight up refused to deal with the issue because "Based on policy only the person involved in the interaction can make a report" So because im not the 13 year old girl i cannot do this report for her. Victims are not always comfortable with coming forward and the fact they refuse to help based on her not wanting to go to them is a bit over the top

I feel like this matter should be able to be handled by anyone that has the evidence to make the claim. Not force someone who is a 1. a minor and 2. uncomfortable/afraid of coming forward. It's completely unreasonable and provides a safe place for pedophiles to take advantage of the people as explained above.

(of course i've also submitted information to local authorities and the center for exploited children just in case)

[Shuuli]

But reporting ingame is anonym... nobody else sees the name but you and the support person. Perhaps your friend does not know how to use the report functionality, so perhaps you could explain it to them. (I am not sure how reporting works for PS players though).

I think reporting on behalf of others may be used as a weapon by people. Like reporting 1 person 10 times on behalf of my 9 friends and me...

[Risvertasashi]

A further problem with the policy is that it can be pretty uncomfortable to watch public abuse happening in /shout or whatever, but "Oh you weren't involved, sorry we won't consider your report."

[Garnorix]

I 100% understand what you're saying and agree but when there's overwhelming amounts of evidence towards it makes it another issue entirely. I have screenshots/chatlogs/witnesses etc.

[Breakbeat]

I am not sure of your relation to the '13 year-old', but what you want to do is contact her parents or guardian. I am not sure why you'd be submitting reports to the authorities before contacting the minor's parents. You shouldn't be doing so; it's not your place. It's that girl's parent's place.

Then, her parents decide how to pursue the matter.

If you are this girl's guardian, then it is your responsibility to put in the report (on her behalf, via her account).

Unless you can establish with some certainty that you are responsible for this minor (which would circumvent policy - of course you will handle reports of inappropriate sexual conduct with your underage child; you don't leave that to the child) then the policy is doing its job, which is to keep non-responsible 3rd parties out of things, especially when one party involved is a minor.

Again, take the matter to the child's parents... that's where your responsibility ends if you're just an online pal, FC-mate, discord acquaintance, etc., etc.

[Arazehl]

So you know for certain that this person is a 13 year old? That you've known her through real life means and there can be no doubt she's who she says she is, because for local authority to step in or CPS or any other agency, they would need her real name and pure facts. And if she is a preteen in trouble, her parent(s)/guardian would need/should get involved. Do her parents play too? If no, than who paying for her subscription each month?

SE has the right of it, they can't take hearsay from outsiders or they could get lawsuits all the time. Does the person who is supposedly manipulating her, know how old she is? These questions I would be asking of her.

I understand you feel obligated to report and you say you've done so, but that's about all you can do on your end. The rest is up to her. Maybe she'll come around and file a report, but I highly doubt it. She knows the aftermath of doing so and what it will bring.

[Breakbeat]

A bigger issue is why this minor didn't bring the issue to their parents, and instead chose a random online friend to report this predatory pedophilic activity. If this child can't even report things like this to their parents, there's a much bigger issue than some unknown FFXIV player saying nasty things to them. That is, in the end, only text.

If this child were to be attacked physically in real life, they don't seem to have the skills necessary to properly handle the situation. Would they run home, log on and again try to get help via FFXIV? That's a parenting failure in the extreme.

[Shuuli]

In any case, you did not answer why they are not using the ingame reporting when it is completely anonymous so they dont need to worry about that... Perhaps there is a miscommunication somewhere in this and everyone is trying to act a bit hastily. (I understand that she might be afraid to act and you are trying to be the knight in shining armor, but you must help in a way you CAN, which is to explain to her how to report the person...) If ingame reporting is not working then she can open a support ticket which is also anonymous...

Also, i hope this girl has since blocked this person (added to their blacklist).