As yet, Niantic – the developer for Pokemon GO – didn’t respond to the museum’s request and complaints, so it remains to be seen whether or not the museum’s area will be removed from the game.
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New York Magazine is also reporting that pokemon can be caught at Auschwitz, the concentration camp in Poland where approximately 1.1 million people were killed during the Holocaust.
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum has told Pokemon GO fans not to play the game on its premises – describing it as “extremely inappropriate”.
Pokemon Go is a free downloadable app for iOS and Android devices in which players search out digital Pokémon in the real world using the Global Positioning System locator on their devices.
A woman points her smart phone at the Brandenburg Gate as she plays the Pokemon Go mobile game in Berlin on July 13, 2016.
The museum at Auschwitz is not the only memorial landmark to host a game Pokespot.
“Allowing such games to be active on the site of Auschwitz Memorial is disrespectful to the memory of the victims of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp on many levels”.
A Pokestop is a geographical point of interest where players can pick up virtual items to help them play the game.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has also stated that playing the game isn’t an appropriate activity to do while visiting the site.
Spokesman Stephen Smith said they had not experienced any problems with the Pokémon Go players yet but wanted to act before they could potentially happen.
The app is only available in the United States, Australia and New Zealand – but reports from users are popping up in controversial sites outside of these countries.
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Museum officials have understandably asked people to stop and are reportedly working to get the location removed from the game.
