Appeal: Valid Wayspots suddenly removed at Dadong Arts Center (22.624460, 120.362736)

[boy021525]

Hello Wayfarer Team,

I am writing to inquire about the recent and sudden removal of several valid Wayspots (specifically, two PokéStops and one Gym) located at 22.624460, 120.362736.

To provide some context, this location is the Dadong Arts Center(大東文化藝術中心) (https://dadongcenter.kcg.gov.tw/home01.aspx?ID=1), a prominent cultural landmark in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It encompasses a multi-purpose theater, an exhibition hall, an arts education center, and Taiwan’s first art library. With its iconic semi-outdoor architecture and various permanent art installations, it is a completely safe, pedestrian-friendly public space dedicated to arts, culture, and community recreation.

The physical art installations that these removed Wayspots represent are still physically present at the location. I have attached photos to this post showing that the objects (and other related artworks nearby) have not been removed or demolished. However, these valid Wayspots disappeared overnight.

Our local community has worked hard to submit and maintain these high-quality Wayspots to highlight the cultural value of this center. However, we actually believe that over the past two to three years, the Gyms and PokéStops within the Dadong Arts Center have been continuously and maliciously reported by certain individuals.

Could the team please investigate the actual reason for their recent removal? If it is confirmed that they were removed due to false or malicious reports, is there a mechanism to have them restored? Furthermore, is there any method or protection we, as a local player community, can utilize to prevent our valid Wayspots from being maliciously reported and removed again in the future?

If you need any additional geotagged photos or further evidence to verify that the objects are still there, please let me know and I will gladly provide them.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

[pokemaster4u2]

I just checked, it appears they do still exist (at least some), but they are in the same cell as other wayspots, preventing them from being visible in the game:

[pokemaster4u2]

this one has a lot of pictures, but is also live (and a pokestop), it does look the same as the one you mentioned

[boy021525]

Thank you for checking and explaining! I understand how the S2 cell mechanics work.

What I mean is that previously, there were two active Wayspots (one Gym and one PokéStop) occupying those specific cells. Because they were maliciously reported and removed, the map updated. This is likely why the system pushed a different, previously hidden Wayspot to become the PokéStop you are seeing now.

Unfortunately, I didn’t record their exact titles when they were active, so I can’t provide the names of the removed Gym and PokéStop. However, I am absolutely certain that up until the end of April this year, there was one Gym and one PokéStop actively visible in those spots.

So, my main question remains: why did the specific Wayspot I originally provided get removed from the database in the first place?

[pokemaster4u2]

Staff will have to explain, as I also just have to guess.

I do know that it is not that easy to move or remove stops, as you do need evidence.

[TjoeMi]

@boy021525

What I mean is that previously, there were two active Wayspots (one Gym and one PokéStop) occupying those specific cells. Because they were maliciously reported and removed, the map updated.

Normally only one wayspot can be active within same cell. In the old time, when wayspot got moved, it retain its pokestop/gym status, enabling multiple wayspot within same cell. But when niantic notice this anomaly , they might fix it. These wayspot might seems gone, but they might be used as powerspots.

[yutinchang4]

Here’s some additional information: The original list of gyms:

Daito Culture and Arts Center (Right Side) Interior
22.624968,120.362756
Daito Culture and Arts Center - Wall Furniture
22.624373,120.362836
Creative Fountain
22.624339,120.363318
One Dragon Ball Missing
22.624217,120.362279
Daito Culture and Arts Center - Tulip Streetlight
22.624383,120.364621
Fengshan Transfer Station
22.625911,120.363303

There were originally 6 gyms here.
Aside from those that may have 1 been removed in real life,
all the others were “disappeared” or “downgraded” in the game,
even if they still exist in real life.

Furthermore, I believe this is a “malicious removal.”

““Someone doesn’t want this place to have any Gym Wayspot.””

Some might ask why I consider it a malicious removal.

I can explain:
The reason is that the replacement Gym Wayspot contained a large number of “images uploaded at almost the same time” and “a large number of likes.”
(Malicious-image uploads, some only slightly altered angles)

The most recent one is only “8 days” old.

See the images below:

Fengshan Senior Citizens Activity Center: 22.628902,120.364177
“17” photos were taken at the same time, and all of them are 25-30 likes.

Exercise and playgrounds: 22.629583,120.362777
All daytime photos were taken on the same date, with only slight changes in angle.

East Gate of Fengshan County: 22.6215,120.363083
A large number of photos uploaded within less than 10 days

Back Gate of Fengshan Buddhist Lotus Society: 22.622499,120.363037
The parts circled in yellow were all taken at the same time.

Regardless of the method used, this maliciously abused account must have exploited a vulnerability in the removal application process.

[TjoeMi]

There is nothing wrong with uploading multiple foto. Gym creation is no longer decided with wayspot with the most like so there this multiple foto with many likes have no effect. Its more likely that it become gym just by chance

@yutinchang4

all the others were “disappeared” or “downgraded” in the game,

Player like us cant downgrade gym unless the gym move to another cell. The other possibility is that property owner request it.

[boy021525]

1. I don’t believe this was a downgrade or removal requested by the property owner. In Taiwan, cultural centers like this are managed by the government, and other similar cultural centers in the exact same city haven’t encountered this issue at all. Therefore, I strongly suspect this is the result of someone’s malicious actions.
2. Regarding the numbers in the image I provided:

Location 1: There was originally a PokéStop here, but it was removed overnight. Since there are no other approved Wayspots in this cell, nothing else appeared to replace it.
Location 2: There was originally only a Gym here (no other PokéStops). The Gym was removed, which allowed the current PokéStop you now see on the map to appear.
Location 3: There was originally only a Gym here (no PokéStops), and it was removed overnight. Just like Location 1, since there are no other approved Wayspots here, nothing new appeared.
Location 4: There was originally only one PokéStop here. That specific PokéStop was removed, which allowed the current PokéStop you now see on the map to take its place.

Timeline of events: The Wayspots at Locations 1, 3, and 4 were all removed on the exact same night. The Gym at Location 2 was removed exactly one week prior to the night Locations 1, 3, and 4 disappeared.

3. Regarding the photo likes: I am aware that spamming “likes” on photos no longer determines Gym creation. However, not every player in Taiwan is aware of this system update. It seems very likely that some players still believe they can manipulate the system and control PokéStops/Gyms by spamming photo likes, which explains the suspicious activity.

[yutinchang4]

Saying something like that when six gyms disappear from the same area is truly naive.

[boy021525]

I really appreciate you taking the time to check this. I actually have no idea how to search for these removed Wayspots, as I’m not very tech-savvy when it comes to this kind of stuff.

[TjoeMi]

@yutinchang4

There were originally 6 gyms here

Do you familiar with s2 cells? Maximum number of gym in one lv14 cell is only 3 gym. If it got 6 meaning it include gym from nearby cells. If this is not true, that mean the gym was moved in the past where it retain it gym status.

@boy021525

I don’t believe this was a downgrade or removal requested by the property owner. In Taiwan, cultural centers like this are managed by the government, and other similar cultural centers in the exact same city haven’t encountered this issue at all. Therefore, I strongly suspect this is the result of someone’s malicious actions.

For now you ald make your point. Wait till niangic staff come and make comment. If its request by property owner, niantic will tell here.

[SlimboyFat71]

@TjoeMi

Maximum number of gym in one lv14 cell is only 3 gym.

Not sure if you noticed that cells 1 and 2 are in a different L14 to 3 and 4.

[boy021525]

Hi , sorry to bother you, but I have a quick question.
I posted this appeal on May 25th, and there’s still no official response from the staff. Is it normal to wait this long for Wayspot appeals? I just want to make sure I didn’t miss any steps. Thanks!

[hankwolfman]

It can sometimes take several days or occasionally a little longer to get a response. The staff will get to it at some point though.

[TjoeMi]

Staff will come here eventually. Bumping the post after a week is ok. Be patient.

[YK62]

Six GYM :

1.大東文化藝術中心右側 interior : 22.624968,120.362756

2.創造之湧泉 : 22.624339,120.363318

3.大東文化藝術中心 - 鬱金香路燈 : 22.624383,120.364621

4.鳳山轉運站 : 22.625846,120.363314

5.大東文化藝術中心 - 牆面家具 : 22.624373,120.362836

6.七龍珠少一顆 : 22.624217,120.362279 (but this GYM is located at elementary school, so removed)

[YK62]

Gyms 1-5 were maliciously reported and removed. This area is actually a great place for strolling and playing Pokémon, but it was maliciously reported by some players who didn’t want to go out, just to get new gyms to spawn in their desired locations.

[yutinchang4]

Seems other players have also noticed this:
Wayspot removed, but still existed, please restore the wayspot

As I mentioned above, this is definitely a group/organization massively abusing the Wayfarer system, bypassing vulnerabilities unknown to official moderators to achieve their desired goals.
(They DON’T WANT there be any Gym Wayspots next to Da-dong cultural center.)

Previously, in another area of ​​Kaohsiung city, players also complained that EXISTED real-life gyms were being massively removed, A large number of Gym Wayspots move to the vicinity of Kaohsiung’s Central Park.
(They WANT Gym Wayspots be next to Central Park as much as possible)

Hopefully, the Niantic team will take this matter seriously and prevent unscrupulous individuals from abusing the Wayfarer system.