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

Posted by msmash on from the murphy's-law dept.

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. Orange dipshit by DogDude · · Score: -1, Troll

    Putin could have given the Orange Dipshit a live camera with a big flashing "RECORDING" light on it, and the Orange Asshole would stick it in the Oval Office. There's no end to his stupidity (or fealty to Russia).

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:Orange dipshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      His illegally imported whore wife hates his punk faggot traitor ass. She's just there for his money, like the rest of the mannequins. You're so fucking retarded Ivan lol, only Facebook Republicans could be dumb enough to think you're real.

      #HANG THE TRAITORS, ROUND UP THE CO-CONSPIRATORS, INDICT THE TRUTH OUT OF THE TREASONOUS FAGGOTS

      “If this expenditure was made on behalf of the campaign and it was not disclosed, and it was done willfully, that’s a crime,” McQuade said. If Trump wanted that done in cash, McQuade continued, “it suggests an effort to conceal the payment. If you’re hiding things, prosecutors often see that as some indication that you believe you were guilty, that you knew what you were doing was illegal. Taking steps to cover it up does tend to establish that willfulness. That could be incriminating.”

      McQuade added that in such a scenario, prosecutors could conceivably see Trump as a “co-conspirator” in a “conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws,”

      Evidence of high crime / felony - CHECK

      Get a rope.

  2. It will be great when Trump hangs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You're absolutely right, there will be nothing greater for America than upholding our highest laws and hanging this treasonous sack of emoluments and bullshit lies. Don't forget his bitch beta traitor sons or feckless daughter either!

    America will be fucking awesome again, once we get rid of these ridiculously retarded traitors and get back to draining the swamp - for real this time, Mueller style.