‘Pokemon GO’ News & Update: Sex Offenders Banned From Playing Nintendo,Niantic Game? New York Seeks Help From Developer?

Government units have taken action in order to protect unwary "Pokemon GO" players by banning sex offenders. Niantic Inc and Nintendo phenomenally transversed social and cultural boundaries and easily extended player demographics with "Pokemon GO."

However, "Pokemon GO" uniquely incorporates and requires geo-location features, which exposed players of the mobile game to environmental factors. Parent Herald cites reports that these factors include "Pokemon GO" players stumbling upon crime scenes, restricted areas, thugs and robbers.

While "Pokemon GO" players seem undeterred by safety and security issues, government units are now taking measures to protect avid pocket monster hunters. The BBC reports that New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo highlighted the importance of safeguarding against "Pokemon GO" and similar technologies being used as tools by which predators and offenders can harm children.

Under this goal, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo asked the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to ascertain that sex offenders under their supervision be prevented from playing from "Pokemon GO." In the face challenges that such technology as "Pokemon GO" poses, the protection of the innocent remains at the top of priority lists.

Polygon reports that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo also called onto Niantic to cross-check the locations of elements of "Pokemon GO" against the addresses of registered sex offenders. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appeals that Niantic coordinate with the government's measures by blocking these addresses of known sex offenders from being used by any aspect of "Pokemon GO."

Polygon further reports that prior to this directive by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on "Pokemon GO," Senators Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino raised the flag on sex offenders in relation to the locations Niantic used. According to Senators Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino a Pokémon, a Pokémon stop or a gym from "Pokemon GO" can be found within worrying distance to the registered addresses of 100 sex offenders.