Remember when people were worried that Pokémon Go was stealing their Google information? It happened way back in July, soon after the game launched in North America. We were so young!
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Things got so serious that Minnesota Sen. Al Franken wrote a letter to the game's developer, Niantic Labs, demanding answers about how the game handles user privacy.
What stuck out to him was how the game directly integrates with Google services; it initially asked for more access to those Google services than was necessary. Niantic quickly issued an update to the game that rolled back how much the game was allowed to access.
Specifically, Franken asked for information on "what user data 'Pokémon Go' collects, how the data is used, and with what third party service providers that data may be shared." And now, over a month later, Niantic finally issued a response letter to Franken.
"The app collects and stores certain information and interacts with various settings on the Trainer's mobile device in order to provide that core game functionality and sense of immersion," Niantic general counsel Courtney Greene Power wrote.
"For example, Niantic collects and stores information about a Trainer's location in order to place the Trainer on the map, and to position her in relation to Pokémon, Pokéstops, and Gyms. Network provider information is also collected, as that data helps to provide better quality geolocation."
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Niantic says it collects only data that's pertinent to the game operating and shares data only in an effort to make the game work more effectively — except in the instance of sponsored locations.
Here's part of the letter (emphasis ours):
"Niantic does not and has no plans to sell 'Pokémon Go' user data — aggregated, de-identified or otherwise — to any third party. As we continue to develop our sponsored locations program, we will provide certain reports to sponsors about visits and game actions (such as redeeming a promotion at the location), but those reports will contain aggregated data only."
While the game's maker isn't sharing your information with third parties in exchange for cash, it is sharing aggregated player information with retail partners that pay for sponsorship deals with Niantic. That doesn't mean Niantic is sharing your personal Google information, but that it's sharing your actions (along with the actions of many other users).
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For instance, Niantic partnered with McDonald's in Japan to turn all McDonald's locations into Pokémon Go gyms. In this example (and we have no idea if this is what's actually happening), Niantic may share how many Pokémon Go players visited a given McDonald's location, or how many people playing the game at that location redeemed a promotion tied to Pokémon Go.
This is the trade-off for playing free games: You pay with your personal information, however removed it is from information that personally identifies you.
Check out Niantic's full letter to Franken »
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