The fitness-and-social media app Strava has inadvertently exposed sensitive locations linked to Sweden's political elite. Bodyguards assigned to protect Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the royal family logged their workouts in various locations, disclosing private addresses and the details of unannounced meetings, as reported by Dagens Nyheter.
In a detailed investigation, the newspaper discovered over 1,400 workouts uploaded by seven bodyguards within the past year, which contained information about their training routes across regions, including the Alps and military bases abroad. The Strava data not only marked out a path to the Prime Minister's private residence but also pinpointed locations linked to personal vacations and high-level meetings.
Particularly concerning was the revelation that a jog by one bodyguard along a beach in Tel Aviv was associated with a private visit by Jimmie Akesson, who leads the far-right Sweden Democrats. This incident follows closely after Sweden’s security police warned of vulnerabilities, given heightened concerns from recent acts of purported sabotage, such as an incident involving undersea cables.
The Prime Minister's office, when approached for comments regarding these security matters, abstained from giving any details. As a popular fitness app that connects users through shared activities, Strava's features could pose risks, particularly for individuals in sensitive positions like those of government officials and their security teams. As scrutiny increases over data privacy on such platforms, the incident raises vital questions about the balance between personal fitness and public safety.
In a detailed investigation, the newspaper discovered over 1,400 workouts uploaded by seven bodyguards within the past year, which contained information about their training routes across regions, including the Alps and military bases abroad. The Strava data not only marked out a path to the Prime Minister's private residence but also pinpointed locations linked to personal vacations and high-level meetings.
Particularly concerning was the revelation that a jog by one bodyguard along a beach in Tel Aviv was associated with a private visit by Jimmie Akesson, who leads the far-right Sweden Democrats. This incident follows closely after Sweden’s security police warned of vulnerabilities, given heightened concerns from recent acts of purported sabotage, such as an incident involving undersea cables.
The Prime Minister's office, when approached for comments regarding these security matters, abstained from giving any details. As a popular fitness app that connects users through shared activities, Strava's features could pose risks, particularly for individuals in sensitive positions like those of government officials and their security teams. As scrutiny increases over data privacy on such platforms, the incident raises vital questions about the balance between personal fitness and public safety.
