On the morning of March 13, the sailor shared a 35-minute, 7-kilometer jog. Judging by the route in Strava, the run took place directly aboard the flagship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle or its accompanying ships. The map clearly shows circles in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea northwest of Cyprus. While the aircraft carrier’s presence in the region was no secret – on March 3, Emmanuel Macron ordered the ship moved from the Baltic Sea to protect allies – the case once again underscored how easily digital habits can reveal important information.
Le Monde’s editorial board compared the route with satellite images taken about an hour later: the aircraft carrier was only six kilometers from the fixed route. This is not an isolated incident. The publication has previously tracked the same sailor off the coast of the Kotanten Peninsula and even on land in Copenhagen. Other open Strava profiles contained photos of decks, crew and equipment, making it possible to determine the ships movements.
In 2024, Le Monde recorded activity on Strava and the security staff of the presidents of the United States, France and Russia. For example, the app was able to identify the hotel where former President Joe Biden stayed in San Francisco in 2023.
The French General Staff confirmed that publishing such data violates the rules, emphasizing the importance of “digital hygiene” for sailors. Strava provides privacy settings to limit the visibility of workouts, but users often don’t take advantage of them. This case is a reminder once again: even the habit of sharing sporting achievements can inadvertently reveal strategically important information.
