Epstein Island Apparently Has a Pokemon Go PokéStop, Yikes

Update: After reaching out to Niantic for comment, they confirmed they have removed the Pokestop from the game.

In a headline that feels like a glitch in the system, Pokémon GO players are reporting a digital landmark in one of the world's most infamous locations: Little Saint James, otherwise known as "Epstein Island."

Over on r/PokemonGoSpoofing, players have violated Niantic's Terms of Service to spoof their location to Epstein Island - virtually, and not for any other reason. But there was something there that they couldn’t have guessed.

Allegedly, the players found a PokéStop of the "Sun Clock" - a real-world location where players can collect in-game items.

Now, it’s important that I flag, I can’t confirm this 100%, seeing as I've never been to Epstein Island myself. Using GPS-modifying software is strictly against Niantic’s Terms and Conditions. However, there are numerous short-form videos and Reddit discussion threads going back a year that all corroborate the existence of the Sun Clock Pokestop, all using the same footage and stills.

What I can do is view the island, which remains under intense federal scrutiny, via satellite mode on Google Maps. The alleged Pokestop landmark does exist - a sundial featuring a distinct, somewhat unsettling human face. Over on Twitter / X, user Pirat_Nation published images sourced from user Original-Leather5346. The data from multiple independent 'spoofing' reports consistently places the PokéStop at the Google Map coordinates known to be Epstein Island.

Will Niantic Remove Epstein Island From Pokemon Go?

Niantic’s Wayfarer guidelines require "safe pedestrian access." Given this is a restricted private island, this landmark likely violates their current location criteria.

"Pokémon" actually appears in the available publicly via the Department Of Justice's 'Epstein Library' transparency disclosures.

An email dated 13 July, 2016 - just one week after the game’s global launch - claims Epstein wrote to Sh. Fahad Bin Hamad, the second son and second oldest child of the former Emir of Qatar:

"Check out pokemon go if you have not already the first of augmented games."

Now let me clarify what this means. This does not prove Epstein himself was catching Pokémon. It also does not suggest anyone in the Epstein files, or on the island, was using the app, or submitted the landmark to the game.

The most likely reason for its existence is a rogue player has thought it'd be funny to submit Epstein Island as an official Pokestop via Niantic Wayfarer (the tool where players submit locations).

While Niantic has tried to stop this as much as possible by requiring a Pokemon Go account level 35 or over, it's not the first time a meme-y location has been approved by the community. Players level 35 or over can also report invalid PokéStops or suggest improvements to an in-game location’s title, description, real-world location, or photo directly from the Pokémon GO app.

While rumors of Epstein being "alive and playing Fortnite" have been denied by Epic Games, the idea that the PokéStop could exist remains jarring.

The idea of a beloved children’s brand popping up at a site synonymous with horrific allegations against young people is deeply uncomfortable.

Niantic, the game's developer, frequently removes stops that lack public pedestrian access.

Imagine playing Pokemon Go one day and your mate sends you a postcard from Epstein Island.

Don’t get any ideas though - again, spoofing location is against the T&Cs. Given the global notoriety of the location, it’s likely only a matter of time before this Pokestop is scrubbed from existence.