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Niantic Responds To Senate Inquiry Into Pokemon Go Privacy (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader writes from a report via TechCrunch: Senator Al Franken has questioned Niantic, the makers of Pokemon Go, about how it handles user's information. He asked the company to explain several key details about how Pokemon Go works, including whether all the data collection was necessary, how data will be shared and how parental consent is obtained for kids who play the game. The game was under the spotlight soon after it launched when it was revealed that users had to provide the game full access and control over their Google accounts. Niantic general counsel Courtney Greene Power responded to Franken via a letter (PDF): "Country is collected and stored, to provide a user the appropriate experience; language may be stored in future updates, for the same purpose. The app collects certain information to facilitate important quality and stability objectives and to prevent abuse. This includes information such as mobile operating system, mobile device identifier, and hardware build information. This information is used to debug phone-specific game problems and to detect and deter cheating in the game. She went on to explain that players under 13 are redirected to the company's website when they register to play, where their parent must also register. Parents are then asked to verify their identity through third-party vendor, Veratad. "Niantic does not and has no plans to sell Pokemon Go user data -- aggregated, de-identified or otherwise -- to any third party," Power wrote. The company also adds that data is shared with mobile app analytics companies and with marketing and analysis companies, but these companies agreed to keep user data secure. The data shared with third parties does not include the data of users under 13, the company said, and no user data will be shared with investors. In response to the response, Sen. Franken said in a statement: "The launch of Pokemon Go earlier this summer represented a new era in gaming, but shortly after the app's release, there were strong concerns about how it treats its users' digital data. I appreciate Niantic's response, but I intend to work further with the company in the future to ensure that we're doing everything possible to protect the privacy of Americans -- particularly American children -- who play Pokemon Go."
They're good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it people like them?
PGo better 'pony up' some re-election funds. this was just a shot over the bow.
It's all about getting your face on the nightly news. That's why they "Never let a crisis go to waste" and ALWAYS try to associate themselves some way to something that's popular.
This is just a shameless "Hey, look at me!" ploy by a politician looking for attention during an election season. Go away Al, you are not up this time...
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
This coming from a senator who used to wear a satellite dish on his head. I'd like to know if he was collecting data from aliens with that thing.
quanto é que aquela merda da samanta paga pra me atropelar e fazer mendigo dar em cima da minha mãe?
>"Niantic does not and has no plans to sell Pokemon Go user data -- aggregated, de-identified or otherwise -- to any third party," Power wrote. The company also adds that data is shared with mobile app analytics companies and with marketing and analysis companies
We're not selling your personal info, we're selling ad space on your phone to marketers who have chosen to advertise to you based on your personal info which we gave them for free.
Totally different.
"Niantic does not ... sell Pokemon Go user data...to any third party,"....
...data is shared with mobile app analytics companies[,] marketing [companies,] and analysis companies....
Data is shared, not sold.
"they are sending players onto private property", No they are not. The Pokemon are spawning in "public areas" not private. I have many hundreds of spwan points mapped and none are on private property. They spawn on sidewalks, not back yards. Plus you can catch them from 5 meters away so, you are wrong on every assumption you have made.
Try to have the tiniest touch of real world data before going spittle throwing, mouth breather.
full access and control over their Google accounts.
FYI: That only applies to the iPhone version of the app. I run the android app, and it never asked for any such permission. I don't even login to the game with my Google account. If I go to the "Apps connected to your Google account" it currently displays "You haven't granted any apps or websites access to your Google Account."
Does the OS X version require a Google account? Can't you login with a Pokemon Trainer account like you can on Android?
And since when is "the app told me to do it" a valid defense? I guess if my GPS told me to drive my car through my neighbor's house, I should just do it and then sue the manufacturer.
I live in a rural area. No sidewalks for miles in any direction. One spawned in my neighbor's front yard. My niece (21 yrs old, so don't gripe at me about "not watching her") had to go about 50 ft. into my neighbor's front yard to catch it. She tried from the road first. Wouldn't work, kept going until she got it. Probably not the best judgement on her part.
Surprised I didn't her about that from the neighbors.
"Niantic does not and has no plans to sell Pokemon Go user data" is probably technically true at the moment, but only because nobody has made them an offer. Every other tech company has sort of poisoned the well on this one; we know that you will eventually sell any data you gather. This declaration to the contrary is just disrespectful, because we all know better.
We need more comedians in political offices. They help offset the drama.
Any 21 year old with no self control is just a poorly raised child.
> "Niantic does not and has no plans to sell Pokemon Go user data -- aggregated, de-identified or otherwise -- to any third party,"
But does not rule out doing so in the future.
> company also adds that data is shared with mobile app analytics companies and with marketing and analysis companies,
That doesn't make sense. They just said they wouldn't share it with any third party. Do they give the with marketing and analysis companies access to that data for free? ORLY? Will you give me a free copy of all the data you've collected Ninatic? I promise I'll keep it secure!
> but these companies agreed to keep user data secure.
Ha ha. So what? They promise not to post it on the web or give it away on AOL coasters. But those companies can then aggregate and sell the data yes or their analysis based on it?
> the company said, and no user data will be shared with investors.
What a strange thing to add. As if the PR weasels said "In case congress sees through this we better throw them a bone."
This stinks.
Interesting that the headline says Franken "questioned" Niantic (which sounds like the name of a drug for erectile dysfunction, by the way). In fact, what he did was send them a letter, with these (quite reasonable) questions. In fact, these are issues that are brought up daily by users here on Slashdot:
Considering the happy horseshit the US Congress has been doing for the past 6 years, I'm not sure this isn't a case of an elected official actually doing his job. Maybe that's why it seems so unusual.
Oh, and here's the full text of Franken's letter:
http://www.franken.senate.gov/...
You are welcome on my lawn.
Good call you and the other poster who spotted this. They're not SELLING it, because they want to retain ownership. Instead they're letting them access it... for a PRICE. You know it's never prosecuted but in many jurisdictions misleading a government official is a crime. Even if Niantic have been careful not to break the letter of the law, they have broken the spirit of the law and are treading very close to the line.
ENOUGH! Time for Congress to legislate to stop this, but on one hand you have deep pocketed corporations like Ninatic and on the other you have the public who don't phone or let aone donate to their congressman. Wonder who will win THAT battle?
Politicians need to know they're not getting bamboozled for poke coins.
Where to start with this one? Usually, I don't respond to ACs, but I will in this case.
1. Just because you don't know of any Pokestops on private property does not mean that these do not exist. You fail at logic.
2. The private property is sufficiently large that the precise locations are far more than 5 meters from any public location.
You are the one with false assumptions. Go crawl back into your Mom's basement.
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
On one side of me I live next to a natural area protected for migratory birds that is a pokestop. Sure, it's kind of a public area but it's also restricted access.
On the other side is a "private" park. Built and owned by the residents of our street. It was built for introspection and to appreciate nature. As members of our street pass away we build memorials for reflection in their name. One of them is a poke stop.
Virtual dogfighting. Wonderful game to bring into these areas.
"they are sending players onto private property", No they are not. The Pokemon are spawning in "public areas" not private. I have many hundreds of spwan points mapped and none are on private property. They spawn on sidewalks, not back yards. Plus you can catch them from 5 meters away so, you are wrong on every assumption you have made. Try to have the tiniest touch of real world data before going spittle throwing, mouth breather.
I can tell you unequivocally you are wrong. I installed pokemon go on my android device just to take a look. the only pokemon I caught was in my backyard. well in excess of 5 meters away from any public areas. closest footpath would be 25 meters away
To be fair here, I do want the government to be an advocate for my privacy, and when corporations are overstepping their boundaries I for one sure hope the government puts them in their place.
Then again, when said government is the number one violator of that privacy, it does make an inquiry into Pokemon Go look like some finger pointing distraction to make themselves look like they aren't doing much worse things and maybe garner some favor from voters who think they actually care.
What about Facebook and Googol? What about oh pretty much every fucking app ever?
"Niantic does not and has no plans to sell Pokemon Go user data -- aggregated, de-identified or otherwise -- to any third party," - today but tomorrow well that depends how much someone offers or we figure a way of making a profit from it.
Still Niantic will not send out a hit crew for you if you don't catch the pokemons so there is no MUST at all.
Senator Franken probably had no plans to create the most extensive surveillance network of innocent people in human history, but he's doing everything in his power to keep it going. ALL YOUR DATA ARE BELONG TO US.
He once inserted random mutations into his code, just so he could have the experience of debugging.
Surprised I didn't her about that from the neighbors.
Maybe they aren't dickheads.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
Five meters my left hind leg! I can tag a pokestop from across a five-lane road. And the pokestop in question is set back from the far side of the road by 20 meters or so....
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
You don't understand Niantic's definition of Private. Private refers to private residential property. Other property that may be restricted from the general public but is still accessible by some is still viable. That park may be considered a private park, but as residents of your street and others invited by those residents may access it, it is still public. You may not play but a resident of the street who does play can freely access that park, thus it is playable.
Also Niantic is not sending any players anywhere. There is no obligation to go after any Pokémon. It is the responsibility of the player to ensure they only go where they are allowed to go.
This doesn't check out. Once a Pokemon "spawns" you can get it without moving an inch. Pokemon spawn range is 70 meters around you. That is a lot bigger than 50 ft.
I live in the suburbs on top of a spawn point. It's in our backyard patio. You can probably trigger it from the sidewalk (haven't tried) but they definitely do appear on private property. Pokestops and Gyms on the other hand are typically located in public areas.
I sent him an email or his staff and told them the Ingress actually tells people where you are when you do certain actions with like an address and everything
Apparently he doesn't give a shit
A sending players onto private propertys
shut the fuck up. Have you even played the game? it doesn't send players anywhere. It doesn't even have a homing feature that works. If the spawn isn't on your screen you won't even know it's there. So you wouldn't even have any incentive to trespass. And even if it did, that is a players problem, not the games. Thats like saying a map of wi-fi rounters is at fault for me tresspassing for free wi-fi. NO. No NO. IT'S MY FAULT FOR TRESPASSING.