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The data collected from players of the wildly popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go is now being harnessed to enhance military drone capabilities, raising significant ethical questions about the use of civilian data in warfare. Originally launched in 2016, Pokémon Go quickly captured the hearts of millions, boasting over 800 million downloads by 2018. However, few players may be aware that their in-game activities could contribute to technologies used in combat.
The Evolution of Pokémon Go and Its Data Usage
Niantic, the game’s creator, partnered with Nintendo to develop Pokémon Go, which allowed users to catch Pokémon in real-world locations by using their smartphone cameras. A significant update in 2021 introduced Pokéstops, enabling players to earn rewards by scanning real-world locations. This feature required participants to voluntarily upload their location scans, providing Niantic with a vast amount of geographic data.
In 2025, Niantic sold its gaming division to Scopely for US$3.5 billion, but the implications of the data collected during the game’s peak lingered on. According to recent reports, this data has since been used to train artificial intelligence models capable of recognising and interpreting physical spaces—a development highlighted by DroneXL.
The Military Partnership and Its Implications
Niantic Spatial, a spin-off from Niantic, has entered into a partnership with Vantor, a company specialising in spatial detection software for drones. Announced in December 2025, this collaboration aims to navigate and coordinate military drones in environments where GPS signals are unreliable or compromised. The two companies are addressing a pressing vulnerability in modern military operations, where GPS jamming and interference can disorient autonomous systems and personnel.
“The partnership addresses a critical vulnerability in modern operations: GPS unavailability, spoofing, interference, and jamming,” Vantor stated in their announcement. Peter Wilczynski, Vantor’s chief product officer, emphasised the need for rapid updates in military hardware and software, underscoring the dynamic nature of contemporary battlefields.
It is crucial to note that while the scans from Pokémon Go helped train Niantic’s AI models, they were not directly shared with Vantor. Players who opted into the scanning feature did so under the terms of service and privacy policy that were in place at the time.
Ethical Concerns and Data Exploitation
The use of civilian-generated data for military applications has raised alarms among experts and advocacy groups. Tom Sulston, head of policy at Digital Rights Watch, expressed concern over the ethical implications, stating, “We know that most people don’t read vast legal documents when they want to play a video game.” He urged regulators to prioritise user safety and to scrutinise how data is used by companies, especially when it intersects with military operations.
Dr Rob Nicholls, a senior researcher at the University of Sydney’s Centre for AI, Trust and Governance, warned that this case may only represent the beginning of a troubling trend. He pointed out past instances, such as the use of Strava data to uncover military facilities, indicating a broader issue with how data collected from everyday apps can be repurposed.
A Broader Context of Data and Warfare
The partnership between Niantic Spatial and Vantor is not an isolated incident. The militarisation of data collected from civilian applications has become increasingly common, prompting calls for stronger regulations. Vantor recently secured a deal worth up to US$217 million with the US Army for training software, further illustrating the military’s interest in leveraging civilian data for strategic advantages.
As gaming and technology continue to integrate more deeply into our daily lives, the ramifications of such partnerships will likely become more pronounced. The line between entertainment and military application is increasingly blurred, raising questions about consent, privacy, and the responsibilities of tech companies.
Why it Matters
The intersection of gaming data and military technology highlights a critical ethical dilemma in today’s digital landscape. As companies like Niantic leverage user-generated content from popular applications for purposes far removed from their original intent, the need for stringent regulations and transparency becomes paramount. This situation serves as a reminder that users, often seen as mere data sources, must be protected from potential exploitation. As technology advances, so too must our understanding of its implications—particularly when it concerns the ethics of data usage in warfare.
