The politics of Pokemon Go

The global phenomenon Pokemon Go has been downloaded over 100 million times in more than 54 countries. As players continue to grow, so does the potential for the game to be used in unexpected ways. 

 

One group in the United States is using it to attract young voters to the polls in the November election. Businesses, both big and small, are partnering with the app to bring in new customers and increase revenue. Others are repurposing the Pokemon characters to highlight their political plight.

 

But there are concerns about the massive amounts of data being gathered from millions of players, and how it could be used or even sold. Security experts warn sensitive sites are being exposed in the game. We’ll take a look at how some are using the game to advance their own interests, and if this is just the beginning of how augmented reality will impact our lives. 

 

On today’s episode we speak to:

Alex Knapp @TheAlexKnapp
Associate editor, Forbes Magazine
forbes.com

Tanaya Srini
Research assistant, Urban Institute
urban.org

Sean Hollister @Starfire2258
Senior editor and gamer, CNET
cnet.com

Kurt Iveson
Associate professor, Urban Geography at the University of Sydney
sydney.edu.au

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.