The location of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, currently deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, was inadvertently revealed due to a security lapse involving a member of its crew. A French sailor unknowingly shared the ship’s position by using the fitness tracking app Strava during a run on the vessel’s deck on March 13, according to reports from VRT News and P-Magazine.
The sailor, identified in French media only as “Arthur,” reportedly used Strava to track a 7-kilometer run on the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle. Because his Strava profile was set to public, the app recorded and displayed his location, effectively revealing the ship’s position to anyone with access to the platform. Reformatorisch Dagblad reported that the blunder also revealed the location of the Dutch frigate Zr.Ms. Evertsen, which is operating in the same fleet.
Le Monde first discovered the security breach and was able to confirm the ship’s location using satellite imagery. The Charles de Gaulle was dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean in early March to support French military bases in the region and help protect against potential attacks from Iran. The precise location of the vessel is considered classified information.
The French military has not officially confirmed the incident, but released a statement indicating that sharing such data “does not comply with current rules” and that “the command will take the necessary measures.” The incident highlights the potential security risks associated with the use of personal fitness tracking apps by military personnel, particularly in sensitive operational areas. This development underscores the increasing challenges of maintaining operational security in an era of readily available geolocation technology.
This is not the first time that military personnel using Strava have raised security concerns. Reports indicate that similar incidents have occurred in the past, prompting warnings about the need for greater awareness and stricter security protocols.
