SUFFOLK COUNTY OFFICIALS CALL ON THE POKEMON COMPANY TO PROHIBIT SEX OFFENDERS FROM REGISTERING ACCOUNTS

Bellone, Sini and Parents For Megan’s Law Warn Parents about Potential Dangers Of “Pokémon Go”

On July 12, 2016 Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Tim Sini and Paul Alonzo of Parents for Megan’s Law jointly held a public safety announcement today warning parents about the potential dangers of the popular mobile application, “Pokémon Go.”  County Executive Bellone also called upon the application’s developers to continuously monitor its user registry for sex offenders.

“The safety and well-being of our residents, especially children, is our highest priority.  As with most social networking platforms, safety measures must be followed to prevent predators from preying on unsuspecting victims.” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.  “We are calling to the developers of this app to join a group of social networking companies who have agreed to use New York State’s e-STOP registry to ensure the safety of all users.”

County Executive Bellone submitted letters to the developers today asking them to work with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to ensure that Pokemon Go complies with the provisions of The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act (e-STOP).

The letter urges the makers of the application to join more than two dozen social networking sites who have already agreed to use New York’s E-STOP registry to purge known sex offenders from their platform, and create a safer environment for children and unsuspecting victims.

“The Suffolk County Police Department is fully aware of this new gaming trend and we are encouraging all users to think safety first,” said Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Tim Sini. “There have been various reports across the country of people getting lured to remote location sand trespassing on restricted and private properties at odd hours. There have also been accounts of people using the application while driving. We are encouraging not just parents, but all users, to practice caution to avoid injury to self and others.”

Pokémon Go is a mobile application that sends users on a virtual scavenger hunt across various physical locations.  Using GPS technology, the game tracks users’ locations and directs them to checkpoints, both near and far, to complete different missions and capture different Pokémon characters.

“What is intended to be a fun game can be also be dangerous,” stated Paul Alonzo, Program Mangager-Parents for Megan’s Law. “Using the geolocation feature of the Pokemon Go App persons seeking to do harm to children can anticipate and identify locations to target potential victims. Using the Lure Module a person seeking to attract players can select a secluded location to target distracted players to victimize them. We strongly recommend parents to accompany children playing Pokemon Go and players should never go to unfamiliar locations alone.”

Although County Executive Bellone, Suffolk County Police Department and Parents for Megan’s Law are not discouraging gamers from using the application, they do stress the importance of exercising safety precautions.

The County Executive and officials provide the following reminders to users for safe gameplay:

• Parents and legal guardians should regularly talk to their children about stranger danger, and create guidelines of where they can and cannot go.

• Drivers are to be alert at all times, drive responsibility, and keep their eyes on the road.  Eliminate all distractions.

• Pay attention where you are walking while accessing the application.  Do not enter unauthorized and restricted areas, such as streets with heavy traffic, hospitals, construction zones and private properties.  You do not have to physically enter a building in order to play the game.

Adhere to the law and use common sense.