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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.
At least in my experience. I have reported that they are sending players onto private property and, despite photos, their response (if they actually do respond) is inevitably "insufficient evidence". At some point, someone is going to get hurt and they are going to be sued.
If they don't give a sh*t about sending people onto private property (and active construction sites), why should they worry about user privacy?
It's the app model. Ignore the risks and the law, until you can be successful enough to get the law changed.
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
"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.
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?
"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.
> "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.
Who cares what they collect? It is a fucking game. If you don't like their policies, don't play their fucking game.
Too many people want something for nothing.
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.
Al Franken is a populist liar. He says whatever the polls say the under-30 demographic wants to hear, and does whatever his funders say to do. Unfortunately for you, his funders are smart and get him to vote populist on ones that don't matter and vote their way when it does.
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.
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.
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