The sensitive movements of President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump could be easily tracked by Secret Service agents as they use the fitness app Strava, a French newspaper said on Monday. reported.
Used by 120 million people worldwide, Strava allows runners and cyclists to record and share their workouts online. Its ability to track users’ movements previously raised alarms at the Pentagon over concerns that soldiers’ use of the app could reveal the locations of secret US military bases.
A recent investigation by Le Monde found that some Secret Service agents were active on the app, including in the weeks after two assassination attempts on President Trump.
In one instance, an agent appointed by Mr. Biden jogged and followed Mr. Biden’s route when the 81-year-old president visited San Francisco to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023.
The outlet was able to determine the hotel Biden was staying at during his West Coast trip based on data displayed on the agent’s Strava profile.
Le Monde found that the movements of former first lady Melania Trump and first lady Jill Biden could also be tracked based on Secret Service agents using Strava.
The Secret Service maintains that disclosing location information did not put protected persons at further risk, but said it is reviewing its policies.
“Affected personnel have been notified,” authorities told Le Monde newspaper in a statement. “We will review this information and determine whether additional training or guidance is required.”
The statement went on to say that “we have not assessed that there has been an impact on protection operations or a threat to protected persons” and that locations are “regularly disclosed as part of public schedule releases.” pointed out.
Secret Service agents are not allowed to use personal electronic devices while on duty, but “the agency does not prohibit employees from using social media for personal use outside of work hours,” the agency added. .
Le Monde found that a total of 26 Secret Service agents share their on-duty activities on Strava.
Dozens of bodyguards for French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were also spotted on the app.
In light of the investigation, President Macron’s office told Le Monde that it had asked protection workers to no longer use the app.
The Secret Service has been criticized for “preventable” security failures during the July 13 mass shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in President Trump, 78, being grazed by a sniper’s bullet. Bathing.
