Employees shouldn’t download Pokemon Go on govt-issued phones: Pentagon

The US defense department officials on Friday said employees should not download Pokemon Go game onto their government-issued smartphones.

The Pentagon doesn’t like Pikachu.

Two friends playing Pokemon Go a short distance away from the San Francisco City Hall. The US defense department has asked its employees not to download Pokemon Go app on their government-issued smartphones.(AFP)

In the latest bizarre news surrounding the global phenomenon that is Pokemon Go, US defense department officials on Friday said employees should not download the game onto their government-issued smartphones.

“You can imagine a number of reasons [why] that wouldn’t necessarily be a prudent thing to do,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Gordon Trowbridge told reporters.

“Aside from any security concerns, I think taxpayers would appreciate government phones being used for government business.”

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality app through which users hunt fictional digitized animal characters like the furry yellow Pikachu, which have been scattered around the world, often in unlikely locations.

The game has become a global craze, with crowds of players dashing to locations to try to snag characters.

Several military installations have warned troops about the possible perils of playing Pokemon Go on bases, including near runways.

Trowbridge jokingly said he could not definitively confirm reports a Pokemon “gym” -- a virtual battle arena -- has been placed in the courtyard in the middle of the vast Pentagon building.

“Last I heard, there was still a gym in center courtyard. I’m not a player myself so I will defer to others,” Trowbridge said.

“I can confirm it,” quipped Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis.