Brooklyn Assemblyman Considering Legislation For Pokemon GO

We’re seeing how Pokemon GO, at the moment, is taking the world by storm. It is poised to be a huge earner and also a great example of how augmented reality could be used for gaming. However there are some concerns, like when the app accidentally required full access to your Google account, how it uses location data to show you Pokemon around the area, and so on.

So far no one really seems to mind, but Brooklyn-based Democrat assemblyman Felix Ortiz has voiced his concerns, as well as the possibility that legislation could be introduced in an attempt to regulate the game, citing the game’s relatively new technology as one of the reasons why we should approach it with caution.

He adds, “Who’s sending what, and what is the follow up? Everyone should be cautious to make sure that no intruders will be able to tap into this and have people think they’re going to the park when in reality they’re going to a be targeted by some rapist. People could think they’re going to the bank, but in reality, someone is waiting to take their money.”

Now Ortiz will not be introducing legislation yet. He has placed the onus on the developers to try and self-regulate the game and what it does, what players can and cannot do, and to ensure there are measures in place to prevent anything untoward from happening. Should they fail on this, that’s when he plans to step in. But what do you guys think? Is this really necessary?

Tyler Lee
Categories: Gaming
Tags: Apps, Legal, Pokémon GO