Pokemon Go Has A Dark Side That You Need To Be Aware Of

Alex Gibson from WGTC writes "Quite apart from the social confrontations that might arise as a result of Pokemon Go’s design, the implications for tech are, of course, enormous. Pokemon Go is yet another example of Google effectively utilizing its APIs to create Google Maps Mashups, tools that have been used by law enforcement, corporations and retailers in a surveillance capacity before."

[madhouse02]

The privacy setting for Pokemon Go are a little odd. Apparently you can switch certain stuff off.. I don't really like the idea of people watching me wherever I go.

[fenome]

Do you use facebook?

[UltimateMaster]

Wait, it had a light side?

[aconnellan]

"I don't really like the idea of people watching me wherever I go"

1. No one is 'watching' you. You're a data point, a number. Part of a stat that says 'x million users logged into Pokemon Go today', or 'x number of users stood near a lure for the full half an hour duration, but y% left after 15 minutes, let's figure out why'

2. Have you ever used any other technology, like a phone? Or Google? Or Google/Apple maps? Or the internet? Or downloaded torrents from your home/phone's internet connection?

3. The game needs data for where people go, given that's how it's built - people go to PokeStops, Gyms, set lures, request new PokeStops, use some Pokemon more than others, etc. How do you expect any meaningful updates to be made if you're against them collecting data for feedback and improvements? (and again, back to point 1 - you're a number on a spreadsheet to them. They aren't turning on your camera, finding out where you live/work, and turning up outside to stalk you)

[TheHip14]

You make some pretty interesting points, but I think that people are just having way too much fun with the game to really see the downsides and dark sides of it. At least at this point.

[gamerpop]

Yeah cos privacy isn't a big deal, right? :p Seriously I wouldn't be surprisedoing if we see augmented reality games become cash cows for ad agencies.

[Soldierone]

Niantic is already making partnership to create pokemon go stops at stores, I don't see the problem with that at all. More pokestops for me, doesn't mean I have to buy anything.

[kevnb]

It obviously isn't to anybody commenting on here or with a Facebook account.

[Sirk7x]

If you use the internet without a damn good VPN, or carry a smartphone, you already have lost a good amount of privacy. Did you know that surveillance equipment and facial recognition software is at the point now where if a person is spotted multiple times with someone with a particular criminal record, it can be automatically logged as an event, and label a person as a potential accomplice?

[mike32UK]

https://www.google.co.uk/am... you're welcome

[fenome]

Edit:

Replied to the wrong comment, me and my phone have a love/hate relationship. We love to hate eachother...

[basilboxer]

The game is the biggest craze I can remember for a long time. I think it's going to cause issues in a social sense but nobody cares.. as long as they're catching them all.

[Kevlar009]

Nothing has taken off this quickly or publicly in years. The closest is Angry Birds or Candy Crush, but PokeGO is has had more public interaction and noise. But in a social sense the closest is most likely Snapchat. It's crazy how prevalent PokeGO is, it's quite the fad atm.

[KurtRussell]

craze is the perfect word for it lol. Dumb people, must have nothing better to do. If i was some dictator, i'd send them to to build some railroad or something and be of some use. "We build the railroad, the railroad builds us" haha

[terallo]

At this point its like white noise. Every app seems to compromise your privacy, and I think people are just used to it. Sad, really

[Duke19]

I feel like more and more articles like this just seem to be grasping at straws for why Pokemon Go is such a doom and gloom app. Its not the first "game" of its kind, and definitely won't be the last.

Hell if you don't like it don't touch it.

[Tsuru]

Right? No ones forcing you to play the game.

[Summons75]

That's because all the negative people are mad people are actually going outside and actually meeting other people in real life. The app has done more good than it has bad and all the "bad" it has done isn't because of the app itself but because of stupid people.

[Sirk7x]

Most negative ads like this, unless intelligently arguing a point or situation, are invoking controversy solely for ad revenue. It must obviously work, seeing as how often it's used.

[opinionated]

People are also setting up ambushes and robbing people. Be aware of what you're walking into. Idiots are also walking off of cliffs and driving into trees. Be smart and you'll be ok.

[S-Word]

The same people that play Pokemon Go are the same people that "upgrade" to Windows 10.

[Wick]

People overlook this kind of thing.

[RosweeSon]

.... The outdoors 😱😋🤓

[Soldierone]

I'm so tired of media outlets blaming the game for stupid behavior. I'm sorry that you don't know how to sell your business to a crowd of people that randomly showed up for a game. I'm sorry that you are such a negative person that people having fun around you disrupts you. Boohoo, no one cares.

As for the actions, come on now. Phone apps have existed for some time. The morons playing the game while driving are the same idiots that text and drive. The idiots stealing phones just have a new excuse. The extremely dumb people trespassing are just utilizing the game as an excuse to do so.... Stop blaming the game for people too stupid to have common sense.

[TorpeAlex]

Lol. Next are the articles claiming, "Pokemon Go was released by terrorists to get everyone to gather in certain locations for attacks!!!"

[1nsomniac]

...I'd rather fist myself without lubrication than take part in this Pokemon nonsense!

[Kevlar009]

Every App or program asks for something in return, especially if it's free. Anything involving locations, personal info, or preferences is up for grabs. It's internet 101, anything and everything can be fine print and then used to their advantage.

[Ravenor]

"Or would a government agency be above using Pokemon Go players to scout the inside of a suspected terrorist hideout?" Oh good grief.

How many of you have GPS built into your cars? Carry your cellphone everywhere? You're a data point, not an individual in these cases. Someone at the NSA isn't making a note of me going to the Sheeba Shrine daily because it's a pokestop, no one cares what you're doing; You're not important. This all just reminds me of the facebook messenger crap (It needs access to your camera and mic because it can be used for voice calls), or my personal favourite people having a fit over the backlight sensor on TV's.

[joab777]

There needs to be limits, such as high security areas and places like a holocaust museum. Ppl will pretry much go anywhere if they think a rare pupuxel exists there.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Street View x Millions. Minions will do the work of street level Mapping

[BlackDoomAx]

Join the dark side !

[TRS_Gear]

I have two examples of things that AREN'T news...

1: This article.
2. Publications using fear mongering involving the government spying on you.

Do you have a smart phone, emial, or social network account? Then guess what, pokemon go is the least of your concerns.

[susanto1228]

Big Brother is watching.