Indonesia bans cops from playing Pokemon GO

A group of Indonesians playing Pokemon GO on the streets in Banda Aceh.

 Indonesia has ordered police not to play Pokemon GO while on duty and will soon ban military personnel as well, officials said on Wednesday, as the defence minister warned the smartphone game was a security threat.
In a related development, Indonesian officials also banned the playing of Pokemon GO from the presidential palace.
Hastily printed warnings that say "Playing or hunting Pokemon prohibited in the palace area" were put up around the palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"This is the office of the president, not a playground," said Bey Machmuddin, chief of the palace's Press bureau.
Despite Pokemon GO not yet being officially available in Indonesia, many have downloaded it illegally and taken to the streets to hunt for virtual "pocket monsters".
But its popularity has caused concern among the security establishment's top echelons, with officials suggesting its high-tech capabilities could be put to use in spying.
"Spying can come in different forms," said hardline Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. "At first, it (Pokemon GO) appears cute but the longer you see... it is just not right."
The military will soon issue an order banning all personnel from playing Pokemon GO during work hours as it seeks to protect high-security sites, military spokesman Tatang Sulaiman said.
The order will note concerns that devices being used to play the game can send data over the Internet to other countries. The announcement came after a Frenchman was briefly detained this week when he accidentally wandered onto a military base on Java island as he played Pokemon GO.
Police officers were already sent an order on Tuesday banning them from playing the game while on duty, a spokesman said.
"We are worried that police officers may become addicted and we don't want that because a police officer's duty is to serve the public. The job requires hard work and concentration," said national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar.
He also said police had been instructed to be on heightened alert for terror threats. 
Game seen as a security threat
> Pokemon GO uses Google Maps to hunt for virtual 'pocket monsters'.
> Many in Indonesia downloaded the game illegally as it has not yet been officially available.
> Military will soon ban all personnel from playing Pokemon GO during work hours.
> The games' high-tech capabilities could be used for spying.
> A Frenchman was held for wandering onto an army base while playing Pokemon GO.