Overview
- The in-game location, labeled 'Sun Clock' or 'Sun Dial' at the island’s sundial, was confirmed removed by Niantic after it drew viral attention.
- Players had shared screenshots beginning Feb. 7 and many used GPS spoofing to virtually visit the private, restricted site.
- Community research traced the marker to Niantic’s shared Ingress database, with reporting indicating a likely 2020–2021 portal submission and an image tied to 2019 drone footage.
- Niantic’s Wayfarer guidelines require safe public access for points of interest, a standard Little Saint James does not meet.
- Renewed scrutiny followed the Department of Justice’s recent document release, which included 2016 emails showing Jeffrey Epstein referenced Pokémon GO, though no evidence links gameplay to activity on the island.