Niantic Spatial clarified that Pokémon Go data is excluded from its partnership with spatial AI company Vantor, addressing public concerns about the game's location data being used for military drone applications.
The statement came after Niantic's acquisition by Scopely raised questions about data sharing practices. Niantic Spatial, the company's mapping and spatial computing division, confirmed it no longer receives data from the popular monster-catching app.
The clarification addresses fears that the vast location dataset collected by Pokémon Go players over the years could be repurposed for defense applications through the Vantor partnership. Pokémon Go has gathered extensive real-world mapping data since its 2016 launch, making it potentially valuable for spatial AI systems.
Niantic Spatial's denial suggests a separation between its commercial partnerships and the game's core data operations. However, the company did not provide detailed information about what data, if any, is shared with Vantor or how existing location information from Pokémon Go is managed post-acquisition.
The incident highlights growing scrutiny around how gaming companies handle user location data and potential military applications of consumer-facing technology platforms.
An IT mistake at English hospitals resulted in the loss of 11 years of viewing history for maternity patient records. Hospital staff recovered the underlying patient care data, though access logs remain unrecoverable.
A new Windows malware called ClosedQuorum leverages multiple AI models to autonomously decide its attack strategy after gaining system access. The threat uses Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, and Mistral to determine post-compromise actions.
Researchers have identified stolen credentials as a critical vulnerability threatening America's water infrastructure. The exposed passwords create direct pathways for attackers to access essential systems.
Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit has shut down EvilTokens, a phishing-as-a-service platform that compromised over 12,000 Microsoft accounts across 10,000+ organizations.