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Putin's Soccer Ball for Trump Had Transmitter Chip, Logo Indicates (bloomberg.com)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's gift of a soccer ball to U.S. President Donald Trump last week set off a chorus of warnings -- some of them only half in jest -- that the World Cup souvenir could be bugged. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham even tweeted, "I'd check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House." It turns out they weren't entirely wrong. From a report: Markings on the ball indicate that it contained a chip with a tiny antenna that transmits to nearby phones. But rather than a spy device, the chip is an advertised feature of the Adidas AG ball. Photographs from the news conference in Helsinki, where Putin handed the ball to Trump, show it bore a logo for a near-field communication tag. During manufacturing, the NFC chip is placed inside the ball under that logo, which resembles the icon for a WiFi signal, according to the Adidas website. The chip allows fans to access player videos, competitions and other content by bringing their mobile devices close to the ball. The feature is included in the 2018 FIFA World Cup match ball that's sold on the Adidas website for $165 (reduced to $83 in the past week).

3 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. It's time to unite for MAGA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Left and Right, let's unite! Put aside our differences and work together for Make America Great Again. Let's do it! We can do it.

    Ebony and Ivory living in harmony? Awesome thoughts! Peace out.

  2. Hiding in Plain Sight by BarneyGuarder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sounds like a great place to hide something in plain sight.

    A soccer ball with a transmitter that isn't supposed to have one would stand out. However, a soccer ball that has a *different* transmitter than it came with would be much harder to identify.

  3. Re:#HerTurnAgain2020 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now that we know Putin stole the election from Hillary Clinton it goes without saying that she must be given the Democratic nomination again in 2020. All potential challengers need to step aside. If it weren't for the Russian meddling she would've clearly won so she has to run again.

    Sadly, I wouldn't put it past them - I think they really ARE that stupid.

    Most votes were not FOR Trump, but rather, AGAINST Hillary, and they refuse to believe that.