Slashdot Mirror
In China, Fears That Pokemon Go May Aid Locating Military Bases (reuters.com)
The sleeper hit success title Pokemon Go is preventing many people in China from sleeping properly. Although the game isn't officially available in the world's largest smartphone market, some people fear it could become a Trojan horse for "offensive action by the United States and Japan," according to a report by Reuters. "Don't play Pokemon GO!!!" said user Pitaorenzhe on Chinese microblogging site Weibo. "It's so the U.S. and Japan can explore China's secret bases!" From the article: The conspiracy theory is that Japan's Nintendo, which part owns the Pokemon franchise, and America's Google can work out where Chinese military bases are by seeing where users can't go to capture Pokemon characters. The game relies on Google services such as Maps. The theory is that if Nintendo places rare Pokemon in areas where they see players aren't going, and nobody attempts to capture the creature, it can be deduced that the location has restricted access and could be a military zone. "Then, when war breaks out, Japan and the U.S. can easily target their guided missiles, and China will have been destroyed by the invasion of a Japanese-American game," said a social media post circulated on Weibo. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was unaware of reports that the game could be a security risk and that he didn't have time to play with such things. He gave no further details.
When war breaks out?! Is this a common belief in China? Or are these just the Chinese equivalent of the American-survivalist sub culture?
Just make all soldiers play Pokemon Go. Problem solved.
One single Chinese microblogger with a tin foil hat advances crackpot theory and actual Chinese official can't be bothered to even talk about, and it makes front page of Slashdot?
Shit, guys, lemme tell you 'bout some CHEMTRAILS!
It's not their military that scaring the shit out of people, it's their fucking way they do business.
Yes, but what about "Secret" "Chinese" bases, that might have a different policy. On the other hand, knowing China, they will have strict rules that prohibit this, but no one will follow them.