According to an updated FAQ section on their official website, Niantic has declared war on players that are using bots or GPS altering programs in Pokemon Go. If they are caught using such services, the players will face a permanent ban.
The use of third-party software has always been against Pokemon Go’s terms of service. The FAQ now specifically states that “This includes, but is not limited to: falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokémon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third-party software.”
In light of this, several notorious bot programs have already started shutting down their services as they report Niantic sending them cease and desist letters. Players that use these services rapidly increase their levels as compared to most regular players and tend to misuse this advantage. Not only do they bypass the very motive behind the game, but they also ruin the experience for other players by taking over gyms in locations they normally should have no access to.
Niantic has further posted on their website, “Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone. We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine tuning of our anti-cheat system.”
