The French aircraft carrier Charles-De-Gaulle was inadvertently located in real-time in the eastern Mediterranean due to the use of the sports application Strava by one of its sailors. This was discovered by Le Monde newspaper.
On March 13, the sailor went for a run in the middle of the sea northwest of Cyprus. This sporting session was recorded on the application, along with a photo. With this satellite image, he inadvertently revealed the position of the aircraft carrier in the immediate vicinity.
The French Armed Forces General Staff reacted by stating that if confirmed, the case is not in line with current instructions and appropriate measures will be taken by the command. They also emphasized that French sailors and military personnel are regularly made aware of security risks associated with connected devices.
It is not the first time that Strava has revealed military data. In January 2018, the US military observed the dissemination of soldiers’ positions in bases in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. In the fall of 2024, Le Monde was able to identify the location of presidential bodyguards of the American, French, and Russian presidents due to their use of Strava.
The French aircraft carrier and its escort have been positioned in the eastern Mediterranean since March 9 as part of a strictly defensive posture to protect the interests of France and its allies, as stated by the government.
