Unpaywalled link is convenient but so do consider subscribing if you want to support this kind of journalism :

“404 Media is an independent website whose work is written, reported, and owned by human journalists and whose intended audience is real people, not AI scrapers, bots, or a search algorithm. Become a paid subscriber here for access to all of our articles ad-free and bonus content.”

Remember when the US was going to make them into a “pariah state”?
Thinks changed quickly when you could sell them $350,000,000,000 worth of murder stuff didn’t it?
Made a lot less waves back then.
Priorities I guess.

Oh no, not only the very ethical American companies get my data?
What a disaster.

Oh man… probably should have passed laws to regulate data harvesting and digital privacy back in the 90s

when the Internet was still just a series of tubes…

Wait until you find out that Saudi Arabia have a big stake in Disney, Facebook and OpenAI.

I’m glad I never played that game. Call me old fashioned but I prefer the original Pokemon games on the Gameboy, that’s all I ever played. It was fun going to friends’ houses and gatherings and trading Pokemon over Link cable. Fun times.

A country that investing in any successful product doesn’t mean they want your data. If they are interested they can buy it directly from any large organization and if must they can use spy ware or other means of intelligence.

If you have privacy concern, you have bigger issue than a game that is for all we know is dying game.

Saudi Govt: So MbS, what are we doing this week?

MbS: Well, first we’re gonna buy Pokémon Go, and if THAT goes well, then we’ll try to negotiate peace for Ukraine.

Saudi Govt: Priorities, Crowned Prince Mohammed. 💪

“Arab country bad”

Scopely is the company that bought Pokemon Go (and others). Scopely was not created by the Saudi Arabian Government as the article states. It was created in the US. But was purchased by Savvy Games (A Saudi Arabian company) in 2023. It still operates independently and is based in the US. Though I do admit they probably report up all the way. Scopely is also the developer of Monopoly Go.

Ah yes… “freedom” under capitalism means being owned by some disgusting oil tyrant.

I guess I’m glad I had a windows phone during the Pokémon go craze

Haven’t played the game in years, and wasn’t aware of any of this. People discussing “What’s worse, Saudi Arabia or Niantic?” feels positively dystopian.

Removed by mod

Yay, capitalism.