Follow the Money: The Podcast How we tracked soldiers on Tinder
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Feb 4, 2026 Investigative reporters reveal how dating app data can be manipulated to locate soldiers and even home addresses. They demonstrate creating fake profiles, triangulating positions, and tracking personnel near bases across Europe. The conversation covers how location and advertising data are sold, how adversaries could exploit dating apps, and what changes might reduce these national security risks.
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Fake Profiles Exposed Soldiers On Base
- The team placed fake female profiles near major bases (Netherlands, Rammstein, Romania, Estonia) and observed soldiers' Tinder profiles.
- They could track personnel on base and follow movements between bases and deployments.
Patterns Reveal Deployments
- Movement patterns over time reveal unit deployments and missions without explicit disclosure.
- Tracking location sequences can expose which units relocate and where they operate.
Past Fitness-App Work Exposed Agents
- Dimitri previously used fitness app data to locate intelligence and military personnel, even visiting an agent's home.
- Those past investigations showed the real danger to families and operations.