French Navy Officer Accidentally Reveals Carrier’s Location on Strava

French Navy Officer Accidentally Reveals Carrier’s Location on Strava

Clearly technology has advanced so much that even hiding behind a fitness app can't save you from revealing national secrets—or just your daily run route.

A French Navy officer inadvertently leaked the location of an aircraft carrier by logging a run on Strava. Despite President Emmanuel Macron's public announcement of the Charles de Gaulle’s deployment, the precise coordinates were still accessible through the popular fitness app.

This incident highlights the ongoing privacy risks associated with Strava, which has previously been used to locate military bases around the world. By default, user accounts on Strava are set to public, publishing workout routes for all to see. In 2024, Le Monde uncovered Macron’s whereabouts by searching for bodyguards’ Strava accounts while traveling with him.

The French Armed Forces representative stated that this behavior does not comply with current guidelines, which sailors are regularly reminded of. Strava did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment but serves as a reminder that privacy settings should be adjusted, even outside the military context.

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