Cuomo: Restrict Sex Offenders From Playing Pokemon Go

Governor Andrew Cuomo is directing the State Department of Corrections to restrict sex offenders under community supervision from playing Pokemon GO or similar games.

The directive will apply to nearly 3,000 Level 1, 2 and 3 sex offenders currently on parole.

Cuomo has sent a letter to software developer Niantic, requesting their help in prohibiting dangerous sex offenders from playing the game.

The governor has also directed the DOC to reach out to Niantic to provide the most up to date information of offenders on the Sex Offender Registry.  The Department of Criminal Justice Services will additionally be providing guidance to county probation offices recommending the adoption of this policy.

“Protecting New York’s children is priority number one and, as technology evolves, we must ensure these advances don't become new avenues for dangerous predators to prey on new victims," Governor Cuomo said. "These actions will provide safeguards for the players of these augmented reality games and help take one more tool away from those seeking to do harm to our children."