At a time when Pokémon Go is the first mobile game downloaded in 60 countries worldwide, some observers point to the risks of data collection, including recalling the scandal in which was entangled by past John Hanke, head of Niantic.
A few days after the game’s release in the US, the publisher had also had to correct a too intrusive functionality. Today Niantic what data he collected on the players and what could he do? Decryption.
Geolocation, e-mail, but not only
When installing the game on smartphone the application requires access to the camera so that the player can enjoy augmented reality when capturing Pokémon, and see them appear in the actual environment of the player. Pokemon Go can also take pictures and record videos. A feature that allows users to capture their capture Gyarados or another rare monster. But above all, the application needs to know the location of the user so that he can change the game on the virtual map. Niantic specifies that geolocation can be rough or very precise contrary in case the user has enabled the GPS function on your smartphone.
The contacts of the device are also scrutinized by the company, which can “find accounts.” For now, she has no reason to do so. But the multiplayer mode in preparation, which will challenge his friends Pokémon trainers, justify this intrusion into the address books.
Moreover, it must go through the registration box to Go to play Pokémon. either via their Google account or through his Facebook account, or by creating an account on the Pokémon trainers Club. An additional step that provides basic information in Niantic such as user names and email addresses of players. For its part, the famous Club trainers request the date of birth of the user. “We collect the personal data that your privacy settings selected on Google, PTC [Club blockers Pokémon] or Facebook allow us access,” the Pokemon Go Privacy Policy. An improvement from the beginning of the game . on leaving, Niantic gave himself full access to the Google account users, far more than was really necessary. A qualified application error and quickly corrected.
The last web page visited before playing
But this stop there. “We collect certain information that your mobile device sends when you use our services, such as device ID, user settings and the operating system of your device, as well as information on how you use our services while using your mobile device “, not hiding Niantic, which may even know which web page a player has visited before to connect to its services.
If a concern for user privacy decides to stop playing and remove its Pokémon Go account data already collected by him are preserved Niantic. For how long ? Mystery. The publisher of the game is unclear, citing only “commercially reasonable time”.
The Wi-Spy case resurfaces
But this is not trivial when you know the past of the man behind the application. As revealed recently The Intercept, the site of Glenn Greenwald originally revelations Snowden, John Hanke, director and founder of Niantic, was in control of the Geo division of Google when the US giant was caught in a scandal related to the collection of private data: the Wi-Spy case.
In our view, the real challenge is to motivate the user to provide data on the long term, beyond the excitement technological innovation at launch
When the scandal broke in 2010, John Hanke hands on everything related to the location (mainly Google Maps, Google Street View). The German authorities then complain that the Google Street Car in addition to photograph the roads around the world to map illegally collect a large amount of personal data via the different Wi-Fi connections in their path: including historical browsing, emails, etc. The US firm is defending first before recognizing his error, making the blame on an isolated engineer Marius Milner. Finally, Constable American telecom makes a report which says that the top brass of the company were well aware of this widespread collection and Marius Milner, if he had a key role, was not a lone wolf .
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Objective, collect data
It is that it is with the latter that John Hanke wrote a patent, even while working both at Google, that would be the basis in the first game of Niantic, Ingress, then Pokemon Go says The Intercept. Leaving Google – the editor was an integral part of the company until 2015 – Niantic has still retained ownership of the famous patent. It explains: “The aim of the game could be directly linked to a data collection activity The game could include a task of acquiring data on the real world as a condition for progress in the game..”
the text even cites an article from the “International Journal of Virtual reality” by way of illustration only and in no hiding the ultimate purpose of the application: “we believe the real challenge is to motivate the user to provide data on the long term, beyond the excitement of technological innovation at launch. the data acquisition process should be entertaining to ensure commitment of user in the long term. We believe that fun and fun is a key element of such a data collection service. ”
“Few reasons to trust in Niantic”
The outstanding question is: what will Niantic all these data? At present, the start-up, which has already earned $ 350 million thanks to Pokemon Go, do not shoot her high income from the resale of data or advertising. The game works on the model of “free to play” classic: in other words, players pay to gain advantages in the game (buying Pokeballs, incense etc.)
Free games, like all free apps, rely on a hidden economy data on smartphone
Still, “the free games, as all free apps, rely on a hidden data on the smartphone economy,” recalls the CNIL. Niantic data that can be shared with investors, Nintendo and Google. And it is not excluded that in brands and also have access, Niantic who will make many partnerships like the one he signed with McDonalds in Japan. For now, the brand of fast food has mostly paid for its restaurants are transformed into Pokéstop or arenas, pushing players to attend. Niantic will he stop at that point?
Two weeks after the launch of the game, the American Association of Defence of privacy EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) asked the competition watchdog FTC to investigate Pokémon Go and Niantic, emphasizing: “given the Google Street View case, there is little reason to trust the guarantees concerning the current state of Niantic data collection practices.”
In Europe, laws on data protection are more stringent than in the US. But nothing guarantees players of the Old Continent control over their data. Niantic assumes the right to transfer abroad. The Pokémon Go Privacy Policy precise black and white: “If you live outside the United States and choose to provide your personal data, we can transfer them to the United States to treat them.” Something to think before you click Install. If this is not done
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