A Belarusian defense official has made the surprising claim that Western intelligence agencies used Pokémon Go, a popular augmented reality game, to gather military data.
The game, which was released in 2016, allows players to catch virtual creatures known as Pokémon in real-world environments.
According to Alexander Ivanov, head of the Belarus Ministry of Defense's Department of Ideological Work, the game was especially popular near military installations, such as an airbase near Minsk.
He made these remarks during a talk show appearance on September 11, 2024, implying that the highest concentration of Pokémon during the game's peak was discovered at the 50th Airbase, a sensitive location housing military aviation equipment.
Ivanov expressed concern that this could have provided foreign agencies with intelligence on Belarusian military operations.
He stated that players were drawn to the airbase due to the large number of Pokémon available for capture.
The use of smartphones for location-based gaming, such as Pokémon Go, may result in unintended leaks of sensitive information, such as the location of military equipment and personnel.
Ivanov questioned whether this was a coincidence or a deliberate attempt by intelligence agencies to collect sensitive information.
He also stated that military officials in other countries, including Russia, had expressed similar concerns, accusing the game of being a CIA spying tool.
Although the game's developer, Niantic, has denied the allegations, Ivanov's comments have reignited debates about privacy and data security in location-based apps.
Not to mention, countries such as China have already banned the game, citing security concerns.
The Belarus Ministry of Defense has not responded further to Ivanov's statement, but the claim raises serious concerns about the possibility of popular games being used for espionage.