Locations and activity of U.S. military bases. Jogging and patrol routes of American soldiers. Experts say those details are among the GPS data shared by the exercise tracking company Strava, whose Heat Map reflects more than a billion exercise activities globally. The Pentagon says it's looking at adding new training and policies to address security concerns.
"Recent data releases emphasize the need for situational awareness when members of the military share personal information," Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway of the U.S. Marine Corps said in a statement about the implications of the Strava data that has made international headlines.
Strava — which includes an option for keeping users' workout data private — published the updated Heat Map late last year.
The San Francisco-based company calls itself "the social network for athletes," saying that its mobile apps and website connect millions of people every day.
Using data from fitness trackers such as the Fitbit, Strava's map shows millions of users' runs, walks and bike trips from 2015 to September 2017 — and in some countries, the activities of military and aid personnel are seen in stark contrast, as their outposts shine brightly among the comparative darkness of their surroundings.