ALTHOUGH Pokemon Go has become a new global craze, many experts have warned against the dangers this game poses to the players, especially children. Speaking to Al-Riyadh newspaper, Jawad Al-Nafili, an expert in electronics, said Pokemon Go, published recently by a Japanese company, is based on enhanced virtual reality technology. The Council of Senior Scholars renewed a religious edict that warns against playing the game. First issued in 2001 when the game was played with cards, the decree says Pokemon violates Islamic prohibitions against gambling, uses devious Masonic-like symbols and promotes "forbidden images." The edict, or fatwa, has reappeared in a ticker on the home page of the Kingdom's portal for official religious decrees. The council argued that the mutations of the creatures in the game, who are given specific powers, amounted to blasphemy. "It is shocking that the word ‘evolution' has been much on the tongues of children," the fatwa read. The council said it revived the decree in response to queries from believers. Sheikh Saleh Al-Fowzan, a member of the council, said the current version of the game is the same as the old one. The edict notes that a six-pointed star in the game, for example, is associated with the state of Israel and that certain triangular symbols hold important meanings for the Freemasonry and Japan's Shinto religion. Crosses in the game are a symbol of Christianity, while other symbols are associated with polytheism, says the edict. Additionally, the edict states parents are using the game to punish and reward children, while warning that adults could gamble away money playing it. Launched only two weeks ago, Nintendo's augmented reality app has become an instant hit around the world. Users of the game walk around their real-life neighborhoods in search of scores of "pocket monsters", which emerge superimposed on the phone screen via the camera. There have been reports of distracted players walking into trees, crashing their cars, and even being robbed and stabbed by crooks who lured players trying to pounce on Pikachus or chase Charmanders. Abbas Al-Mayouf, a social activist, believes the game poses grave dangers to not only to the players but to the general public as well. "The game can cause distraction while driving or walking and the result can be disastrous. In some cases, one can get addicted to the game," he added. The Traffic Department warned that those who play the game while driving will be fined. Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Zahrani, director general of traffic in the Eastern Province, said playing Pokeman Go while driving is a gross traffic violation, which will incur a fine of SR300. "The game may distract the driver and may hurt himself, other motorists and pedestrians," he said. The game is popular in the Middle East and many gamers have downloaded the app though it's not been officially released regionally. Some levels of the game are available for free, but advanced levels can be expensive with a player paying up to $99.99 for each level. "While the game encourages physical activity and movement, it has numerous potentially dangerous aspects. The game makes the player capture images of everything around him, even inside his own home, without him knowing. The game turns into a spy because it uses GPS," Al-Nafili explained. He called upon parents to keep a close eye on their children and explain to them the dangers of the game. But other experts suggested solutions to protect one's privacy while playing this game. Hassan Abdullah, a technology expert, said many people do not know they can deactivate the camera feature. "It is difficult to believe that the company launched this game in order to steal people's personal information. If someone claims this game can spy on one's surroundings, what will we say about Google Maps then? If you take a picture using your iPhone or an Android-supported smart phone, it will be saved instantly in Google or Cloud servers. I believe Pokemon Go does not pose any dangers of this sort," Abdullah said. Sultan Al-Noah, a theater director, believes this game is pointless and does not add any scientific or cultural values to the player. Moreover, many technology experts have warned that the game might be used to spy on others and public facilities like airports, embassies, police stations, banks, etc. "Our enemies can get a lot of sensitive information about us through this game. We have to develop alternatives, which should be educational and beneficial. We can also develop sports, cultural and tourist activities for our children to help them do something constructive in their free time," he said. Parents should make sure their children do not have this game on their iPhones and other smart phones, he added. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea, a member of the Board of Senior Scholars, said playing Pokemon Go is tantamount to treason because the game undermines the Kingdom's national security as it can expose sensitive information. "This is a downright treason," he said.
