Exploding Popularity Of 'Pokemon GO,' Its Dangers, Users' Privacy Concerns

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The popularity of the new smartphone game, Pokemon GO, has been astounding.

The Associated Press reports, since its release Wednesday, it has become the top grossing app in the iPhone app store.

According to Forbes, it could be poised to surpass Twitter in daily active users on Android.

But it hasn't been all fun and games. In fact, the game has raised some security concerns.

For starters, its privacy policy explains the app is a location-based game, meaning it collects and stores information about the user's location, information that may then be shared with other users who are playing the game.

In Missouri, for instance, several men were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery, accused of using the gaming app to lure victims. Police alleged the suspects placed a "beacon" at a 'pokestop' to draw in gamers.

The privacy policy also discloses that the app's servers automatically record certain information, including the user's Internet protocol address, browser type and the web page the user was visiting before accessing the app. That data will then be used to improve or enhance the user's experience.

In order to play the game, the user must have an account with Google, Pokemon Trainer Club or Facebook.

The privacy policy explains that the app will register that email account and, according to published reports, will then gain access to that account unless the registered user modifies security settings.

According to Pokemon GO's terms of service, the app will then create the user's account "by extracting from your Google, PTC, Facebook or other pre-existing third-party account certain personal information (such as your email address) that your privacy settings on the applicable account permit us to access."

For those who decide to deactivate their account, the app's privacy policy explains that Niantic and others may retain information, including the user's profile information and user content for a "commercially reasonable time period for backup, archival, and/or audit purposes."

In recent days, other concerns have been raised, including allegations that users have been trespassing onto properties in Virginia to find Pokemon.

AP reports that other users, like Mike Schultz of New York, have sustained injury in falls stemming from having their eyes glued to their smartphones, though the app itself tells users to "be alert at all times" and "aware of your surroundings."

To read the app's full privacy policy, click here. To access the app's terms of service, click here.