He also asked for a list of service provides with whom Pokemon Go shares user information, why it shares information, how children’s information can be protected and how users’ Google accounts used to sign in can be protected.
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Nintendo partnered with Niantic Labs to create the app that has quickly become a cultural sensation – and all it took was an off-the-cuff remark from one of the people behind Pokemon Go to set the internet into overdrive.
In a letter dated yesterday (via GameSpot), he raised several issues to Niantic Labs CEO John Hanke expressing concern over how Pokemon Go may or may not use information gleaned from users as they play the game. In the letter, he stated he is “concerned about the extent to which Niantic may be unnecessarily collecting, using, and sharing a wide range of users’ personal information without their appropriate consent”. That meant iOS users could not edit those permissions (which request user ID and email address); their only option was to revoke access entirely.
According to IGN SEA, fortyseven.com – the agency which represents Niantic, said that there are no announced plans outside the countries with official releases now.
Sen. Al Franken isn’t anxious about catching Pokemon Go – he’s anxious about Pokemon Go catching all your data.
The letter notes that Pokémon Go collects profile and account information, location data, and data “obtained through Cookies and Web Beacons”.
Niantic did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Franken’s inquiry.
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Despite the vague timeframe for global release, Hanke confirmed that Japanese fans will soon be able to download the game, and ultimately in South Korea as well, one of the biggest gaming markets in the world.
