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Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Genocide museum bans Pokemon Go after outcry

Genocide museum bans Pokemon Go after outcry

and | Publication date 11 August 2016 | 06:53 ICT

A Phnom Penh Post reporter views the Pokemon Go app in front of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum earlier this week.
A Phnom Penh Post reporter views the Pokemon Go app in front of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum earlier this week. Athena Zelandonii

Genocide museum bans Pokemon Go after outcry

The developer of the popular Pokemon Go smartphone app yesterday said they were reviewing requests to remove the collectible creatures from controversial locations around the world, but Cambodia won’t be waiting for them to take action.

Expressing outrage that the game features locations inside the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, site of a former Khmer Rouge torture facility where thousands were sent to their deaths, museum director Chhay Visoth has acted unilaterally, implementing new measures at the museum to prevent visitors from playing the game.

“I have instructed my officials to ban any visitors who come to play Pokemon,” he said yesterday. “We do not welcome this crazy game because this place is not the place to play a game.”

The developer, however, has still not provided a date for an expected removal.

“We have received requests to remove some locations,” a statement from developer Niantic read. “We are moving quickly to review all such requests.”

Contact authors: Andrew Nachemson and Mech Dara

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