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Fitness-Tracking App Reveals Locations of Secret Army Bases (theguardian.com)
Coisiche shared this story from the Guardian:
Sensitive information about the location and staffing of military bases and spy outposts around the world has been revealed by a fitness tracking company. The details were released by Strava in a data visualisation map that shows all the activity tracked by users of its app, which allows people to record their exercise and share it with others. The map, released in November 2017, shows every single activity ever uploaded to Strava -- more than 3 trillion individual GPS data points, according to the company. The app can be used on various devices including smartphones and fitness trackers like Fitbit to see popular running routes in major cities, or spot individuals in more remote areas who have unusual exercise patterns.
However, over the weekend military analysts noticed that the map is also detailed enough that it potentially gives away extremely sensitive information about a subset of Strava users: military personnel on active service... In locations like Afghanistan, Djibouti and Syria, the users of Strava seem to be almost exclusively foreign military personnel, meaning that bases stand out brightly. In Helmand province, Afghanistan, for instance, the locations of forward operating bases can be clearly seen, glowing white against the black map.
One analyst analyst predicted that after this discovery, "A lot of people are going to have to sit through lectures come Monday morning."
Another military analyst told the Guardian "U.S bases are clearly identifiable" -- though he added that the map "looks very pretty."
However, over the weekend military analysts noticed that the map is also detailed enough that it potentially gives away extremely sensitive information about a subset of Strava users: military personnel on active service... In locations like Afghanistan, Djibouti and Syria, the users of Strava seem to be almost exclusively foreign military personnel, meaning that bases stand out brightly. In Helmand province, Afghanistan, for instance, the locations of forward operating bases can be clearly seen, glowing white against the black map.
One analyst analyst predicted that after this discovery, "A lot of people are going to have to sit through lectures come Monday morning."
Another military analyst told the Guardian "U.S bases are clearly identifiable" -- though he added that the map "looks very pretty."
Cause god knows spotting a military base with a shit load of military hardware in it and a dirty great big barbwire fence is impossible without these fitness apps.
Because the location isn't sensitive. These bases aren't hidden, they are fortified forward operating positions.
What is inside the base is sensitive, what information there is sensitive, what force composition is there is sensitive.
I believe the industry term is meta-analysis. It actually makes sense that it exists, as there's far too much information for one analyst or one team to analyze, especially when it crosses disciplines. At some point analysis has to trust on the other of other analysis.
It's probably in the interest of the higher-level analyst to be a natural skeptic though, since it's always a good idea to at least spot-check the work of others that one is reliant on.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.