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Iran Bans Pokemon Go Over 'Security Concerns' (usatoday.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the impending-doom dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Iran has become the first country to ban Pokemon Go, the mobile game where users (aka Pokemon trainers) roam the physical world in search for digital creatures known as Pokemon. The country cites security concerns for the reason behind the ban. "Any game that wants to operate nationwide in Iran needs to obtain permission from the ministry of culture and Islamic guidance, and the Pokemon Go app has not yet requested such a permission," Abolhasan Firouzabadi, the head of Iran's supreme council of virtual space, told the Isna news agency. The Guardian reports that Iranian officials feel that the game can create problems for the country and its people. Iranian authorities use smart filtering software, a system that affects connectivity speeds and in many cases has replaced more traditional mechanisms for blocking internet services, the Guardian reported.

9 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. israeli army identifies a new threat: 'pokemon go' by sittingnut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    meanwhile
    https://www.yahoo.com/tech/isr...

  2. Smart by PPH · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How long will it be before someone sets up a PokeStop or Pokemon gym or whatever it is that causes people to congregate at a location and plants a bomb there? Or just messes with people by planting a rare Pokemon inside some sacred temple like the Kaaba?

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:Smart by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 3, Informative

      Most of the locations are actually user-generated. Niantic imported their POI database from Ingress to populate the map in Pokemon Go.

      --
      Imagine all the people...
    2. Re:Smart by monkeyman.kix · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How long will it be before someone sets up a PokeStop or Pokemon gym or whatever it is that causes people to congregate at a location and plants a bomb there? Or just messes with people by planting a rare Pokemon inside some sacred temple like the Kaaba?

      Oh thats right, we should all go back indoors and forget that there is a real world out there. Its terrible that we have become so insulated and fearful of what could potentially happen that the first sign that we feel we can emerge from our darkened basements to see the outside (however augmented it may be) that someone screams chicken and wants us all back inside where its "safe". This is what the terrorists want. In fact this is what most governments want. They want and need a fearful populace so the leaders can implement more control over our lives. I say take back your freedom. Download Pokemon Go, Walk around and see your neighbourhood. Meet new friends and see that there is nothing to worry about, and stick it the the fear mongers.

  3. Good Spy technique by Virtucon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Put all the Pokemon in that highly secure Atomic Bomb I mean er uhm Peaceful Uranium enrichment plant. Free Spying for everyone.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  4. Re:Tor, DoD & You! by sexconker · · Score: 2

    You're rambling a lot.

  5. Define irony by agm · · Score: 3

    A theocracy banning a pasttime that sees you out seeking for beings that aren't really there.

    1. Re:Define irony by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      It's a monotheistic religion. Meaning, they insist in having the monopoly on imaginary friends.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. First country? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Someone forgot Saudi Arabia. Iran is only the first to do it over security concerns.