Strava Data Compromises Security of Swedish Leaders

An investigation reveals that fitness app data from bodyguards linked to Swedish leaders has leaked sensitive location information, raising security concerns amid recent incidents of sabotage.

Bodyguards responsible for the protection of Sweden's royal family and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have inadvertently disclosed sensitive locations through their use of Strava, a popular fitness tracking app. An investigation by a Swedish newspaper found that the bodyguards shared their workout routes, which effectively pinpointed private residences and secret meetings of top officials.

The investigative report from Dagens Nyheter details over 1,400 workouts recorded by seven bodyguards in the past year. These revealed not only the location of Mr. Kristersson's private residence but also where he and his wife vacationed in late 2023. Although Mr. Kristersson, a dedicated runner, kept his own routes private, the activities logged by his bodyguards made it easy to ascertain his preferred paths.

This data breach comes at a precarious time for Sweden, which recently dealt with an "act of sabotage" against an undersea cable. The exposure of bodyguards’ workout logs has raised significant security alarms, especially as they divulged further sensitive information, including a clandestine meeting between Mr. Kristersson and the leaders of Norway and Finland. Locations and routines of other senior politicians, including former prime ministers, were also compromised.

In another incident reported, a bodyguard's route matched an unannounced trip taken by recently visited Israel by Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats. This situation highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding data privacy, particularly when it involves security and military personnel. For their part, the Prime Minister's office has opted not to comment on the implications of this security breach.