Update: NianticCasey-ING confirms that AR scans have nothing to do with the removal of PokeStops or Gyms in Pokemon Go.
Previous Story: It appears that some PokeStops and Gyms are getting removed from the game. Today it might be a Gym near you and tomorrow could be a PokeStop.
Rumors are circulating that the Mapping tool is helping Niantic decide which PokeStops and Gyms are going away. This is sad because these two features were the main ways of interacting with the game. If a favorite/ near PokeStop vanishes, you might need to go to the nearest, which is not always near you.
We saw this being discussed in a Pokemon GO subreddit thread. This thread confirms the new situation, and has urged players to stop using the AR Mapping Tool, as Niantic is supposedly using this one to remove the Stops that might seem that are “misplaced” or “fake.” The same goes for Gyms.
The AR Mapping tool that Niantic is trying to push you to use through Field Research is actively being utilized to remove PokeStops and Gyms. When you scan a location and Niantic deems it to be “misplaced” or “fake”, they have started to quickly delete them. I just had a fair bit of gyms and stops removed from my area and my local Discord group is reporting the same thing en-masse. Niantic is using the players to do their own legwork in determining a Stop/Gym’s validity, and then using it against us. This applies to both new Stops/Gyms, as well as older established ones that could have been there for a year or more.
Be warned, be aware. Stop scanning and giving up your data so Niantic can make the game harder for you to have fun playing.
It is very disappointing and discouraging to see your favorite PokeStop or Gym getting removed from the map, so we do hope that Niantic will soon come up with a confirmation or statement.
Worth adding the Niantic response to your article -https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/comment/52776#Comment_52776
Living in a rural area is challenging for Pokemon Go players. I have 3 Pokestops within a half mile. We have a local store that in its parking lot, is used by 2 different county school buses to pick up and drop off children but that is not adequate for a gym to be added to our area. The closes gym is 7 to 12 miles away depending on the location. Please don’t remove what little we have in our area.
Niantic has already addressed this saying it is simply not true. Please try reporting actual news next time.
Hi and thank you for your comment. We think you should read the article again. It clearly says RUMOR. However, do you rule out the possibility that Niantic might be hiding something? Niantic Support have been wrong so many times before…
So you rather “report” fake news rather than the truth? Show that this website has no credibility.
I hope they all go away…. Go get virtual in your parents basement and stay there….