Augmented Reality Games Banned from US Air Force Base
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Video games have often been termed as dangerous by the government, but it was never an issue for national security. However, now an impromptu investigation has revealed that augmented reality games might pose a threat to national security. The investigation has led to the ban of these games from the US Air Force Base. The inquiry had taken place at the Colorado Spring’s Schriever Air Force Base. The ban has been confirmed in this base, but it is not yet known whether other US air bases will enforce this ban.
What Led to the Investigation?
The impromptu inquiry was launched at Colorado Spring’s Schriever Air Force Base after a visitor was seen taking pictures near the 9/11 display of the base. He was questioned by a base patrol and it was revealed that he was playing Google’s AR game Ingress created by Niantic Labs. The game requires players to snap virtual portals which are situated in real world locations with the use of their smartphones.
An investigator of the 50th Security Forces Squadron went through the basics of the game and shared his reports with the special investigations office of the base as well as with the security forces associations present in other bases in that area.
The Result
The inquiry resulted in the ban of Ingress and similar geo-location augmented reality games from the base. The staff members of the base are not allowed to play these AR games. Neither are they allowed to bring anybody onto the base for playing the game.
50th Space Wing Commander, Col Bill Liquori told the base paper that the AR games have the potential to pose operational security risks. According to Liquori, these games require the players to click pictures of real world locations. This could provide a potential terrorist a cover for surveillance.
The military satellites of the country are tracked and maintained by the 50th Space Wing. This wing is also responsible for managing the Global Positioning System.
An official from the Schriever Air Force Base made a confirmation on the ban but as mentioned earlier it is not yet known whether the ban will be applicable at other bases. Google is yet to make any comments on how this ban might affect the popularity of Ingress.
What do you think?
Do you think the ban on augmented reality games will help the country from potential terrorist attacks? Do you know about any helpful applications of AR games? Share your insights in the comments below.
Image Source – thepractitionerd.com
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