Pokemon Go Player Data Reportedly Used to Train Military Drone AI

Optional location scans provided by Pokemon Go players reportedly contributed to the training of Niantic Spatial's visual positioning system. This technology utilizes camera imagery and 3D maps to enable navigation in situations where GPS signals are either unavailable or being jammed.

According to reports, this system is now being paired with Vantor's drone navigation software, intended for military and intelligence applications. This development has raised concerns regarding players' understanding that their voluntarily submitted footage, initially collected for in-game rewards, could eventually be used to support defense systems.

The pipeline for this technology reportedly involves three main steps. First, players scanned the physical world. Niantic Spatial then converted these scans into a 3D map, allowing machines to determine their location by sight even when satellite signals fail. In December 2025, Niantic Spatial announced a partnership with Vantor, a defense and intelligence firm formerly known as Maxar Intelligence, to integrate this ground-level system with Vantor's aerial navigation software for use in operations where GPS is denied.

A spokesperson for Niantic, in a statement to Kotaku, confirmed that as part of Scopely, the Saudi-owned company that acquired Niantic, Pokemon Go data is no longer shared with Niantic Spatial. The spokesperson added that AR scans collected through Pokemon Go were submitted voluntarily by players who opted into the feature, subject to the applicable Terms of Service and Privacy Policy at the time. The cessation of AR scanning and the discontinuation of data sharing with Niantic Spatial were part of the transition planning following Pokemon Go's move to Scopely.

(Source: Slashdot)