With the explosive rise of VTubers in recent years, the phenomenon has swept across Japan, Asia, and even Western countries. As more eyes turn to these virtual stars, so too have "anti-fans" emerged, with malicious individuals spreading rumors and attacking VTubers, a problem that plagues both major corporate agencies and independent VTubers alike.
Cover Corporation, the company behind the VTuber agency hololive production, announced on August 31, 2026, a revision to its hololive production fan-work guidelines. One particular new requirement has caught the attention of many fans: a clear stipulation urging fans not to "privately punish" alleged violators. This addition has sparked considerable discussion.
The "prohibition of private punishment" rule, which has generated much debate, essentially states the following:
The official statement clarifies that even if you suspect a violation of these guidelines, please do not use it as a pretext to attack or criticize other fans or participants, or to publicly expose their information on social media (SNS) or other platforms, leading to public shaming.
If you believe an action is problematic, please report it or seek advice through the reporting functions provided by event organizers, various platforms, or our company's customer service/contact window. We ask for everyone's cooperation in preventing such situations from escalating into harassment or private sanctions/punishments among participants.
This particular clause has been highlighted by netizens, given the frequent online disputes among VTuber fans in the past. Especially when confronted with individuals attacking VTubers, it often led to mutual accusations online. It's clear that Cover aims to reduce this kind of online vitriol, preferring to handle such matters through official channels.
Following this announcement, many fans expressed their support, believing it will help reduce internal community conflicts and cyberbullying.
Additionally, the new guidelines prohibit R18 adult-oriented expressions in cosplay and include new regulations concerning overseas activities. Participants engaging in cosplay, doujin activities, or other fan events abroad are now required to comply with local laws and regulations, reflecting the increasingly international fan base.
Cover stated that these adjustments primarily aim to make the guidelines clearer and more precise, while also fostering a healthy community environment and positive interactions, thereby preventing unnecessary disputes arising from fan-works or fan activities. However, whether these changes will truly mitigate community conflicts remains to be seen and will likely be a test of time.
via： ホロライブプロダクション