Niantic

Niantic responds to claims that Pokémon GO player data was used in military drone training programs

The developer denies allegations tied to its partnership with Niantic Spatial and defense-linked firm Vantor.

Update: Jun 12th, 2026 18:14 CEST

Pokémon GO has not been immune to controversy. A few years ago, it came to light that its developer, Niantic, had used player data to map the Earth. Now, a recent report has once again placed the company in the eye of the storm regarding the use of player-generated data, which has also been used to train military drones—although the company itself has already denied the allegations.

According to a report by the Danish media outlet Trouw, the article examined how a partnership formed late last year between Niantic Spatian and Vantor, an intelligence company linked to the defense sector, has had an impact. According to the outlet, when players scan a PokéStop, Niantic collects both the scans and location data, building a navigation system using artificial intelligence. The article suggests that by using “30 billion” pieces of location data from Pokémon Go players, the company is also contributing to military technology that could be used in warfare.

Niantic responds to claims that Pokémon GO player data was used in military drone training programs — pokemon go

What is the goal of the partnership between Nantic Spatian and Vantor?

This partnership allows both companies to work together to address a current problem: “GPS unavailability, spoofing, interference, and jamming.” As explained, they aim to solve this problem by “integrating two distinct, industry-leading localization technologies to create a unified operating picture,” combining each company’s capabilities and expertise to resolve this issue.

For its part, Niantic has denied any military use by this alliance. “While we have an agreement with Vantor, announced last December, it is still in its very early stages, and sharing this data is not part of the agreement. We are committed to working with all of our customers and partners to ensure that Niantic Spatial products are used in a responsible manner that upholds human rights and ethical principles.”