Don’t Let Pokémon Go Data Guide Military Drone Attacks

Millions of Pokémon Go players shared data about their neighborhoods to improve the game. New reports suggest that data was used to train technology that could guide military drones in attacks against them.

People downloaded Pokémon Go to play a game, explore their neighborhoods, and connect with friends. They did not sign up to help build AI for war.

Scopely, the company that now owns the game, and Niantic Spatial, a spin-off of the original developer, must immediately end this betrayal of our trust.

Tell Scopely and Niantic Spatial: Commit that Pokémon Go player data, scans, and models trained on that data will never be used for military or surveillance technology.

Pokémon Go is played around the world. Players have scanned streets, parks, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods across the globe. No one should have to wonder whether the places they explored for fun could one day help guide drones through those same communities — or even be used against them.

Niantic Spatial has pushed back on the claims and says actual Pokémon Go player data will not be provided to Vantor, its war tech partner. But Niantic Spatial’s AI model was trained using data gathered from players — and if that model is used for military technology, it will be done without informed player consent.

People should not be tricked by fine print into helping build tools of war. Player scans should not power military AI. And consumer app data should not become surveillance infrastructure.

Scopely and Niantic Spatial must draw a bright line now: No Pokémon Go player data, no player scans, and no consumer-derived models should be used for military or surveillance technology. Public pressure can force them to make that commitment before this goes any further.

Add your name now and demand Scopely and Niantic Spatial keep Pokémon Go data out of military and surveillance technology.

Thanks for all that you do,
Matt from the Swarm