Strava Fitness App Exposes Locations of World Leaders Including Biden and Trump

An investigation by French newspaper Le Monde has revealed that the movements of several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and his rivals Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, can be tracked online. This is due to a fitness app used by their bodyguards. However, the U.S. Secret Service stated that they do not believe their protection was compromised in any way.

Le Monde discovered that some agents from the U.S. Secret Service, as well as security personnel for French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin, use the Strava fitness app. This app is popular among runners and cyclists for tracking and sharing their workouts. The investigation showed that these agents' movements could potentially reveal sensitive information about the leaders they protect.

Security Concerns with Strava App

In one instance, Le Monde traced the movements of Macron's bodyguards using Strava to determine that he spent a private weekend in Honfleur in 2021. This trip was not listed on his official agenda. Similarly, the whereabouts of Melania Trump and Jill Biden were also pinpointed through their bodyguards' Strava profiles.

The U.S. Secret Service clarified in a statement to Le Monde that while staff are prohibited from using personal electronic devices during protective duties, they are allowed to use social media off-duty. "Affected personnel has been notified," it said. "We will review this information to determine if any additional training or guidance is required."

Potential Security Breaches

Le Monde's report highlighted another case where a U.S. Secret Service agent's Strava profile revealed the location of a hotel where Biden stayed for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in 2023. The agent had gone jogging from the hotel shortly before Biden's arrival, which was tracked by Strava.

The investigation identified 26 U.S. agents, 12 members of the French GSPR (Security Group of the Presidency of the Republic), and 6 members of Russia's FSO (Federal Protection Service) with public Strava accounts. These accounts could potentially expose their movements during professional trips.

Official Responses to Findings

Macron's office responded to Le Monde's findings by stating that the reported issues have minimal consequences and do not affect the president's security. Local authorities are informed of Macron's movements in advance, ensuring full security at his locations, thus eliminating any risk.

A reminder was issued to agents by Macron's chief of staff advising against using this app. The report also noted that identifying bodyguards on Strava could lead to further personal details being uncovered, posing potential risks if used maliciously.

The U.S. Secret Service added, "We do not assess that there were any impacts to protective operations or threats to any protectees." They mentioned that locations are often disclosed as part of public schedule releases.