Niantic Spatial Denies Sharing Pokémon Go Data With Drone Firm

Niantic Spatial has pushed back against claims that it has access to or shares user data from Pokémon Go with a drone technology firm. The clarification comes after the augmented reality company was acquired by Scopely, prompting questions about how player information is handled.

According to the company, it no longer receives data from the popular monster-catching mobile application. This marks a shift from earlier arrangements, though executives have not detailed exactly when the data-sharing pipeline was severed. The statement was issued in response to growing speculation that Niantic Spatial, which focuses on mapping and location-based services, might be funneling user information to drone operators for commercial or surveillance purposes.

The denial aims to reassure the game’s massive player base that their in-app activity, including location history and movement patterns, remains separate from Niantic Spatial’s current operations. Since the Scopely acquisition, Niantic has restructured its business, spinning off its spatial mapping division while keeping the game under new ownership. This separation, the company argues, ensures that Pokémon Go user data stays within the game’s ecosystem and is not repurposed for external ventures.

Still, the episode highlights ongoing privacy concerns tied to location-based gaming. With millions of players worldwide, any hint that their movements could be accessed by third parties, especially defense or aerospace contractors, raises red flags. Niantic Spatial’s firm denial may help calm those fears for now, but the broader question of how augmented reality data is governed remains unresolved.