wonder if someone will call this a weapon of mass destruction?

Meanwhile in Russia https://steemit.com/pokemon/@acidsun/russian-bank-offers-free-pokemon-go-insurance

I don't know if it's a weapon but it sure ain't improving the state of humanity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du732WTlPl0

Google **already**  mapped a large amount of WIFI hotspots by gathering the signal strength and MAC address data  during  the Google Street Views project. This information is used for example when you enable geolocation feature in your Firefox browser.

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Excerpt from https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/geolocation/

*How does it work?
When you visit a location-aware website, Firefox will ask you if you want to share your location. If you consent, Firefox gathers information about nearby wireless access points and your computer’s IP address. Then Firefox sends this information to the default geolocation service provider, Google Location Services, to get an estimate of your location. That location estimate is then shared with the requesting website.*
---

Most of the people with Android phones also backup their WIFI hotspot data to Google. Now Google has map of hotspot locations, combined with who owns these hotspots, so its very easy to tell the precise location where someone with an Android phone lives. 

Now imagine only the precision they can achieve with PokemonGo. Not to mention all the other possibilities that the OP talked about. 

The spooky thing is that Google **already** did the mapping once without asking any user consent.  I see no reason why they won't do it again.

Samy Kamkar also mentions how Google mapped the WIFI hotspots in his amazing DEFCON talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJtmZZGcR54#t=3m50s

South Park called this years ago with the takeover of America by Pokemon. I wont touch that game. Haven't tried it and never plan to. 

I totally agree with your statement about being able to control masses of people to an area of your choice. Hey if Pokemon Jumps off a bridge will everyone do it?

It's sad that people want to find a conspiracy theory everywhere, even in a game.

First of all, i would like to mention that implementing malware in videogames is a risky thing. Here's why: Pokemon Go is still not supported in many countries, so those Android users who want to play Pokemon Go, need to download APK instead of searching it in Google Play. It appears that one of the most popular APK files contained some malware in it. That was exposed by some users on Reddit and other forums just days after the release. It's very easy to loose users trust in 2016, remember how Windows 10 and data mining was exposed?
If there really was a backdoor in Pokemon GO code, that would allow the potential "bad person" to spy on users, using this app, then, it would have been already found. Thousands of coders, game hackers (the people that use their skills to obtain boosts in games), developers that want to make another game clone - they would share this with the people, as it would be a potential app destroyer, so they would be able to make their own clones and have all the profits possible.

Also, it's silly. Why would people from spy agencies develop a game, based on a setting, that costs billions of USD, instead of negotiating the possible backdoor in the OS. People don't catch Pokemons 24/7. People don't use the app 24/7 Yeah, i know about youth and kids, but if we are talking about some Gov people...

You can also play without using the camera. AR is just an option.

In my opinion, these kind of theories (about applications) should be always backed with code/data control logs that prove the statements.

And if there was an idea of forcing you to be in needed locations in-game, developers wouldn't have made Lure Modules  and Incense :) These items attract Pokémon to you.

http://cdn.memegenerator.es/imagenes/memes/full/23/4/23048194.jpg

I posted this one a few days ago:

https://img0.steemit.com/0x0/https://s32.postimg.org/h9m7vfqcl/pokemon_joke.jpg

The potential for abuse definitely exists. But I think the scope of the problem is a little smaller than stated. First, think about the amount of processing power it would take to sift through all of that data. Not very many entities have access to in-memory databases to feed this information into. Secondly, if at any point someone actually tried to exploit PokemonGo in the manner you suggest, that particular act would go public eventually.  It would be a one-and-done tactic. PokemonGo only remains an attractive target as long as it is full of naive users, and as long as the vulnerabilities aren't public. Most people won't be continuously manipulated in the exact same manner, especially if the dangers are known. If we are having this much discussion about the dangers of PokemonGo before anything bad even happens, imagine the amount of scrutiny that would be applied should something actually occur. While I do not think PokemonGo is harmless, I do see the benefit in the game, from a certain perspective. Personally, I do not play...and I am not anymore fearful for the lives of those that do than I was before it was introduced.

Useful information , thanks

I'm not sure about the intensions of the creators, but I completely agree with you on the potential of the platform to be used for malicious intent

Quality post Phenom. Great  work. I believe we are witnessing next level on 'let's see how dumb they really are'

Peekemon

PokemonGo has permissions for your camera, location, and supposedly email. A quick google search shows that even the camera permissions suggest that access is required at all times. Additionally, there is no mention on how the data from the camera is stored or used. Lastly, in the terms of service it says that they can disclose this data  "…to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate: (a) to respond to claims, legal process (including subpoenas); (b) to protect our property, rights, and safety and the property, rights, and safety of a third party or the public in general; and (c) to identify and stop any activity that we consider illegal, unethical, or legally actionable activity."

Now imagine this:

You're a drug lord with piles of illegal drugs and cash laying around the house.  You also have a couple kids with their own phones playing PokemonGo. 

The kids go about scanning throughout the house looking for Pokemon but they happen to scan your stash which is data that they collect. Now if what they say about the NSA and government agencies being able to spy through users' phones is true, then your kids playing PokemonGo pretty much just scanned and gave out the location of all the illegal stuff that you have. 

Now for most citizens they are not doing anything illegal or don't have anything to hide. However, I think it's still a big deal that a centralized service is collecting data of personal stuff that you have with your location. Even if their intentions are good, what if that centralized service that collects that info is hacked and leaked? Are you comfortable with people you don't know knowing what you have inside your house even if nothing is illegal? If you have Trump posters in your bedroom or other personal items that can identify you to a group which can put you on a list or make you a target of a hate crime, shouldn't you be worried?

I mean we see stories in the news of the kids of celebrities flashing bling and exposing their own parents for tax evasion.  One example are kids posting their parents hidden assets on Instagram trying to brag but ends up backfiring here: http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/06/rich-kids-of-instagram-have-been-giving-away-their-parents-naughty-tax-secrets-5799513/

Most people are not aware of this but if you're on here reading this, then now you are.

https://steemit.com/news/@stompy/putin-to-ban-pokemon-go-in-russia

Yea I was thinking this exact same thing man... this game is a complete tool for the CIA. 100% positive.

http://turboportal.ru/uploads/posts/2013-08/1375448901_magomed.jpg

It's will not happen in my country! Why? Because Pokemon Go will not available in my country. Good luck have a good journey :)