Abuse Report: Image Stolen from Facebook

General Discussion
1

title : handmade cafe Hi-ho!
location : 32.773819,129.980904

I have already submitted an abuse report regarding this matter through the email form with the following.

The submission uses an image that completely matches the one at the URL below:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=113205314938305&set=a.113205371604966

However, I received the following response from team:

Dear Explorers,

Thank you for contacting us.

Please submit a new image for the Wayspot via Pokémon GO. For instructions on how to submit a photo, please refer to the following link:

Submitting a PokéStop or Gym Contribution — Pokémon GO Help Center

Once the new image has been submitted, please contact us again. We will then proceed with the review of the corresponding Wayspot.

Best regards,

My biggest concern is why the team failed to take action despite being presented with clear evidence of image theft. Since I live in Osaka, it is physically impossible for me to go all the way to Nagasaki just to take a photo of this location. I am deeply shocked by the team’s lack of compliance in deciding to keep using a stolen image as the primary Wayspot photo until I am forced to submit a new one myself.

Furthermore, I am highly disappointed by the insensitivity of the Japanese reviewing community for approving this submission without noticing the blatant photo theft at a single glance. Additionally, this submission provided absolutely no text in the supporting information, and the description only stated: “A cafe named ‘handmade cafe Hi-ho!’ which is a Type B Support Employment Facility. You can enjoy fried chicken and hamburger lunches here.”

This is a social welfare facility aimed at providing practical training and rehabilitation for individuals who face employment difficulties due to mental health conditions or other factors. It is undeniably a sensitive location. Moreover, based on these details alone, the submission completely lacks the verification required by the local business criteria. I am profoundly disappointed that the majority of reviewers voted to approve this.

As a bare minimum response, Niantic must immediately remove this stolen image and issue a warning to the submitter regarding the unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

2

Scopely Explore have demonstrated in the past (on this forum) that “every community-submitted wayspot must have a photo” overrides all and every concern about images.

It is easy to perceive this to be blatantly wrong, with an alternative solution being to replace illegal images with placeholder images that encourage local players to submit a new photo.

Asking people reporting to take a new photo is pushing the responsibility onto the wrong person.

3

It is absolutely ridiculous to me that using a third party photo is grounds for rejecting a nomination and even sanctions on the submitter, but does not make the wayspot meet removal criteria. I think there should be a serious adjustment to that policy. “Get it through without anyone noticing and your Wayspot gets to stay” should not be something that can happen. If there is a legal issue with third party photos in the submitting process, why is it not an issue in an existing Wayspot?

4

I 100% agree with @salixsorbus and @cyndiepooh 's comments above.

My only worry would be when someone uses their own photo for Wayfarer and everything is fine then weeks / months / years down the line sees a facebook post about the same POI (nothing to do with Wayfarer) and decides to post his photo.

OK, these days we can see when the facebook post was made and when the wayspot was accepted but I could see issues…

5

I’m frustrated by this situation right now, too. Someone stole an image of a condo pool off a real estate web site and got it approved. But i know it won’t be removed if i report it.

Abusers get to win. And it is really frustrating.

Meanwhile, i spend my time and resources physically driving to places to take my own photos and submit them.

6

Step 1: Reviewing and saw a submission using google photo.
Step 2: Reporting on reviewing.
Step 3: The said reported submission turn into wayspots a few days later…??? And they keep posting more.
Step 4: Pointless, they will never remove wayspot with google photo.

Why do I even bother caring about the quality of Wayfarer when the team won’t do it first? People like us taking photo physically and driving to discover and building an area while these abuser can just stay at home and lazy using Google photo, and not getting punishment???

This is not fair.

7

Hi @CrownFeather, thanks for reaching out.

We have taken action on the Wayspot and the Wayfinder in accordance with our policies. While we are unable to discuss our actions in detail to protect the submitter’s privacy, they may include, but are not limited to, sending a warning message, placing restrictions on their Wayfarer and Pokémon GO accounts, putting their account on probation, or placing a temporary or permanent suspension on their Wayfarer and Pokémon GO accounts.

Thanks for helping us maintain the quality of the Wayspots.

8

The wayspot has been removed, presumably due to the abusive photo even though the POI may be eligible. This is the second such instance of Scopely Explore doing this, despite previous evidence suggesting they wouldn’t. One more example and I’d be confident that this is policy.

9

Thank you for investigating this issue and taking appropriate action, including guiding the submitter.
I apologize if my initial post sounded a bit harsh or emotional. I really hope the submitter takes this guidance to heart, reflects on their actions, and contributes properly moving forward.

10

Your initial post was forceful, but appropriately so, as far as I am concerned.

11

I think it would be wise not to infer and make assumptions about policy given so much of wayfarer involves individual decisions.