Posted (edited)
Is genuine AFK farming legal? No. You are expected to be at your computer most of the time that you are in game. However, semi-afk activity is tolerated. For example, reading a book while you sit at your computer letting your pet kill stuff.
Should you report them? There is no harm in reporting anyone you suspect of being an afk farmer or bot. ANet GMs will investigate and take appropriate actions.
Will afkers get banned? Probably not, at least for the first offense. ANet rarely hands out permanent bans. They have found that warnings and suspensions are more effective at stopping bad behavior. There are certainly exceptions that can result in bans on the first offense (real money trading is the really big one).
ANet almost never releases names of anyone who has been punished (suspended or banned). They don't see any real benefit in "naming and shaming". Nor do they discuss the ways they catch cheaters. This is to deny would-be cheaters any insight into how to avoid being caught.
Edited by CaelestiaEmpyrea.2617
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