Location-Based Matching... Base Location Exposed
Russian Black Sea Submarine Commander Assassinated
The Russian government has imposed a complete ban on the use of social networking services (SNS), including dating apps based on location information services, for residents, soldiers, and police officers living in border areas with Ukraine. This is interpreted as a measure to prevent confidential information, such as the locations of key military facilities, from being leaked through dating apps amid Ukraine's ongoing counterattacks on Russian mainland. Following a series of incidents, including the assassination of a high-ranking Russian officer who had exposed his jogging location on an app, Russian authorities have heightened their vigilance. However, since most frontline soldiers continue to use smartphones even during combat, the effectiveness of the ban is expected to be limited.
"Ban on Dating Apps and SNS for Border Area Residents, Military, and Police"
According to CNN on the 21st (local time), the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement saying, "Residents, soldiers, and police officers in border areas such as Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod near Ukraine should not use online dating service apps and must be cautious about uploading videos in sensitive locations," adding, "The enemy utilizes even these small details for intelligence gathering."
In particular, soldiers are prohibited from using not only dating apps but also SNS and tagging altogether. Dating apps are location-based matching programs that connect users with potential partners living nearby based on pre-registered customer data, and confidential information is being leaked through these apps. Russian authorities explain that soldiers stationed for regional defense mostly live in barracks, so the location information from dating apps can be used as a tool to expose the locations of military facilities.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also issued recommendations on the same day, warning, "Never open emails or hyperlinks from strangers, and do not record videos on roads where military vehicles are present," adding, "The Ukrainian military remotely hacks CCTV systems without security, monitoring strategic roads, highways, and even the private areas of individual homes."
Russian Submarine Commander Assassinated After Exposing Jogging Location
Stanislav Rezhitsky, the Russian submarine captain who was assassinated while jogging in a park last July. [Image source=X (formerly Twitter)]
The Russian military is also strictly limiting SNS use by officers and soldiers. This is because a Russian officer was assassinated last year after posting his morning jogging route on a jogging-related app.
According to The New York Times (NYT), in July last year, Stanislav Rezhitsky, a Russian Navy lieutenant colonel and commander of the Krasnodar submarine of the Black Sea Fleet, was assassinated by gunfire while jogging in a park near Krasnodar in southern Russia. Although he had already retired at the time of the assassination, his name was listed on a war criminal list posted by the Ukrainian military.
He regularly uploaded his main jogging routes on the popular jogging app 'Strava.' This app, created by the American company Strava, allows users to create maps using their jogging location data. Due to concerns that the use of this app by military personnel could expose U.S. military bases worldwide, its use has been banned in operational areas in the U.S. as well.
Although the app suspended services in Russian regions from May 2022 after the outbreak of the war, many Russians are still known to use the service through virtual private networks (VPNs).
MZ Generation Soldiers Using SNS Even During Combat... Questions Over Effectiveness
Despite the security and assassination threats, Russian authorities continue to issue SNS bans, but soldiers are not strictly adhering to them. Moreover, since smartphones and SNS are already widely used in actual operations, there are criticisms that the bans could be counterproductive.
According to TASS news agency, on the 24th of last month, the Russian State Duma proposed a bill that could impose up to 15 days of detention for soldiers using smartphones during combat. The draft bill specifies a ban on the use of electronic devices capable of video and audio recording and transmitting geographic location data. Although the Russian military has already completely blocked SNS by prohibiting the disclosure of personal identity or location information, stronger legislation has emerged amid calls to ban smartphones altogether to eradicate SNS use.
However, not only frontline soldiers but also well-known Russian military bloggers have expressed opposition to the bill. VeteranRecord, a famous Russian blogger, stated on Telegram, "The higher-ups in the parliament live on another planet. They have no understanding of the nature of modern warfare," adding, "Soldiers cannot do anything on the battlefield without smartphones now. Instead of banning smartphones entirely, apps that can control sensitive information should be developed."
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