French aircraft carrier's location revealed after crew member logs run on fitness app Strava

The episode has prompted renewed attention on the risks associated with location-sharing technology, particularly in sensitive environments.

A location disclosure involving a French naval vessel has raised concerns about operational security after activity recorded on a publicly accessible fitness platform revealed the position of a deployed aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.

According to a report by Le Monde, a member of the French Navy shared details of a workout through the mobile application Strava, inadvertently allowing the movements of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to be identified.

The report states that the individual, described as a young naval officer, logged a 36-minute exercise session on a publicly visible profile. The data enabled observers to pinpoint the vessel’s position in the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus. The information further indicated that the carrier was situated approximately 62 miles off the Turkish coast.

Data reviewed by the publication showed that the activity took place on March 13. The officer is said to have used a smartwatch to record a run exceeding four miles, completed along the deck of the vessel, which measures close to 900 feet in length. The recorded route effectively mapped the outline of the ship, making it possible to identify its location and movements.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened regional tension, following air strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran roughly two weeks earlier.

The same report indicated that this was not an isolated instance. At least one additional publicly accessible account had been uploading geotagged exercise data from another French naval vessel engaged in an active mission. These posts reportedly included images showing parts of the ship, crew members, and onboard fitness facilities.

The episode has prompted renewed attention on the risks associated with location-sharing technology, particularly in sensitive environments. The fitness platform involved is widely used, with an estimated 120 million users globally, and allows individuals to record and publish details of physical activity such as running and cycling.

The disclosure comes at a time when security considerations in the region are under scrutiny. Donald Trump has recently called on allied countries to strengthen safeguards around the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route that has been affected by escalating tensions in the Gulf.

Authorities have previously sought to address similar risks. While the Department of War had imposed restrictions on the use of fitness tracking applications and wearable devices, concerns linked to such platforms have continued to arise.

France has encountered related issues in the past. According to the report, security personnel assigned to Emmanuel Macron, as well as teams linked to US presidents and Vladimir Putin, had used the same application as recently as last year. In doing so, they unintentionally exposed identifying details through shared location data.

In one cited example, a member of the security detail for Joe Biden recorded a run during a visit to San Francisco in 2023, when he was attending discussions with Xi Jinping. Analysis of the uploaded data reportedly enabled observers to identify the hotel where the US President was staying at the time.

Responding to the latest incident, the French Armed Forces General Staff confirmed that established digital security protocols had been breached. In a statement to the publication, it said the sailor had failed to comply with guidelines governing the sharing of sensitive information and added that “appropriate measures will be taken by the command.”