Pokemon Go stands for Global Offensive and used by Japan? HOAX

ByCraig Haley

A bizarre graphic claiming that Pokémon Go actually stands for Pokémon Global Offensive is spreading across social media.

The graphic (below) claims that the game is actually a way for Japan’s military to “map out our country” (presumably referring to the United States) using “our own” GPS and cameras.

pokemon-global

Did you know?
Pokemon GO actually stands for Pokemon Global Offensive
Japan’s military is using it to gain control of your every move
While mapping out our country using our own GPS and cameras
By doing so they can lead thousands into potential bombing zones

The bizarre message has been circulating via social media, with many apparently curious as to the legitimacy of the stark warning.

Of course the graphic backs up literally none of its claims with any sort of evidence or, well, logical consistency. The pertinent question here is why any country would need to rely on a smartphone app based on an anime franchise to “map out a country” when comprehensive satellite footage of almost the entire United States is available via Google Satellite/Maps (or Street View?)


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In today’s incredibly connected world, there are little secrets when it comes to the layout and population densities of any particular country, thus the claim that Japan have somehow infiltrated Niantic (developers of Pokémon) and are using the information they collate for some kind of military surveillance is as asinine as it is completely unfounded.

Needless to say, this ridiculous rumour should not be circulated.

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