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Indonesia’s presidential palace bans playing of ‘Pokemon Go’

In this Sunday, July 17, 2016 photo, members of Presidential Security Forces stand in attention during the changing of guard at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian authorities banned the playing of "Pokemon Go" from the presidential palace on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, as they voiced worries that the game could be a security risk. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
In this Sunday, July 17, 2016 photo, members of Presidential Security Forces stand in attention during the changing of guard at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian authorities banned the playing of "Pokemon Go" from the presidential palace on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, as they voiced worries that the game could be a security risk. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

By Associated Press 1 min read

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Indonesian officials have 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.

Last week, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung said he had captured a number of Pokemon at the palace. But some officials have expressed worry the game could be a security risk.

Police have been banned from playing the game while on duty, and local media reported that Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had warned that the game might be used by foreign countries to detect sensitive information.