3 Email Safety Checks GOG Missed Before Sending Nazi Symbols

If you think an email with Nazi symbols is just a gaming company problem, you're wrong. GOG sent a newsletter promoting The End of the Sun and accidentally included a Sowilō rune that looks like an SS symbol. The fallout? Apologies, trust damage, and a reminder that your next campaign could be one symbol away from a crisis.

Why a “sun” rune became a PR nightmare

GOG blamed miscommunication with German QA, inconsistent font rendering, and understaffing during a bank holiday. But honestly, most of the time these screw‑ups happen because nobody runs a simple cross‑cultural check. Here is the thing nobody talks about: your email design might look fine on your screen but transform into something offensive on mobile. I learned this the hard way with a client who used a “harmless” geometric pattern that turned out to be a Klan symbol in certain regions.

Your 3‑step safety net (implement today)

1. Build a visual asset “red flag” checklist

What to do: Compile a list of symbols, runes, and patterns that have been misused by hate groups. Include the Sowilō, the othala rune, the Celtic cross, and anything resembling swastikas (yes, even Buddhist ones).
Why it matters: Your designer might not be a history buff. One symbol can cost you weeks of crisis management.
How to do it: Google “hate symbol database” (ADL has one) and export the images. Share with your creative team. Make it part of the style guide.
Pitfall: Don't rely on memory alone. Even seasoned designers miss things. Pro tip: print the checklist and pin it next to the monitor.

2. Scan every image with AI before send

What to do: Before uploading to your ESP, run every email image through Google Vision API or similar for label detection. Look for “hate symbol”, “swastika”, “SS”, “rune”.
Why it matters: GOG's newsletter looked fine on desktop but rendered incorrectly on mobile. AI catches what the human eye skips.
How to do it: Set up a simple Zapier or Make automation: new email image → Google Vision → if confidence > 80% for “Hate Symbol”, block send and notify team.
Pitfall: AI can have false positives. Don't blindly block everything — use it as a trigger for human review.

3. Mandatory cross‑device preview with real devices

What to do: Test every newsletter on at least 5 devices: iPhone, Android, desktop Chrome, Safari, and an older phone model.
Why it matters: Font rendering differences caused the rune to look like an SS symbol on mobile. GOG blamed “inconsistent font rendering”.
How to do it: Use a tool like Litmus or Email on Acid. But go beyond — borrow a colleague's phone and physically check.
Pitfall: Simulators are not enough. Real devices with different OS versions show you the ugly truth.

One more thing nobody tells you

Understaffed during a bank holiday? That's not an excuse — it's a process failure. Set up a “last‑minute human double‑check” rule: if someone is out, the final review shifts to a designated backup. No exceptions.

You think you're safe? Wait until your designer uses a 'peace sign' that looks like something else in another culture. It is actually simpler than people make it seem: add a cultural symbol review step to your email SOP today. After 5 years you realize that most PR disasters are preventable with one extra pair of eyes and a simple checklist.