CIA venture arm funded technology behind Pokémon Go
The CIA's venture arm, In-Q-Tel, funded Keyhole — a 3D satellite imaging technology that became the foundation for Niantic and the Pokémon Go game. Niantic founder John Hanke previously developed Keyhole, which was used to support US military operations in Iraq.
Additionally, John Hanke was involved in the Google Street View WiSpy scandal, where Google vehicles secretly collected data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks in various countries, including emails, passwords, and browsing history.
Niantic’s board of directors shows close ties to the defense sector: Gilman Louie, a co-founder of In-Q-Tel, serves on the boards of both Niantic and Vantor, a defense contractor recently partnered with Niantic. Niantic’s CTO also helped create Keyhole and previously worked at E-Systems, a military contractor acquired by Raytheon.
Niantic is an American company best known for developing popular AR games, especially Pokémon Go. It actively integrates cutting-edge augmented reality technology, using optical data and geolocation to create unique gaming experiences.
These facts highlight the close relationship between Niantic’s technologies and military developments, raising concerns about the company’s transparency and user privacy.
Looking ahead, the joint history of Niantic and the defense sector in technological development is expected to attract increased scrutiny, particularly regarding the protection of users’ personal data.
