US Senator Raises Pokémon Go Privacy Concerns

US Democratic Senator Al Franken has written to the CEO of Niantic, the company behind smartphone game Pokémon Go, demanding information regarding the record-breaking app's privacy settings.

Pokémon Go players use their smartphones to catch Pokémon characters and win points, and while playing, their phone's GPS and camera identify the player's location, to enable them to interact with their surroundings. In the first four days after its release on Thursday, the app was downloaded a staggering 7.5m times, and it is already used daily by more than 10 per cent of Android users, leaving little doubt [it is] the most successful app of all time', say analysts.

According to Franken - who also sits on the Senate subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law - unless users specifically opt out, the app collects a 'broad swath of personal information', including users' general profile data, precise location and device identifiers.

In Franken's letter to Niantic CEO John Hanke, he also mentioned a bug that has allowed the company access to users' Google accounts, including their Gmail. In addition, Franken has requested a list of the third-party service providers Niantic shares information with and has given Hanke until 12 August to respond. 'I am concerned about the extent to which Niantic may be unnecessarily collecting, using, and sharing a wide range of users' personal information without their appropriate consent', Franken stated.