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It might seem harmless: posting a picture of yourself in uniform on a dating app. After all, there are plenty of people who find this attractive. But did you know that sharing a photo in a military uniform could jeopardize national security? Recent research has shown that such a photo can have far-reaching consequences.
Research on soldiers using dating apps
This was revealed through (Dutch) research conducted by Follow the Money. The investigative platform gained insight into countless dating profiles thanks to a data leak at Tinder. By creating fake accounts, they were able to track soldiers both domestically and abroad. This allowed them to identify deployment locations and the NATO bases these individuals visited, all thanks to the GPS data users can choose to share.
Because the app allows users to set their active location, the researchers focused on areas near well-known NATO bases. This enabled them to track the profiles of 400 soldiers. Since many of these individuals shared photos of themselves in uniform, identifying them was straightforward. By combining these profiles with publicly available information on social media, they were even able to uncover home addresses. The research team even managed to track a Canadian diplomat during his international travels.
Military uniforms on dating apps could threaten national security
According to security expert Matthijs Koot, this publicly available information poses a threat to national security. By combining this data with other sources, entities like the Kremlin could potentially deduce whether NATO armies are scaling up in certain areas. Additionally, Russian spies could build online relationships with these individuals to gather sensitive information. While this data might seem innocuous, it could play a role in broader intelligence-gathering efforts.
For some, this might sound far-fetched, but in 2023 it became evident that the Russian intelligence service operates in this manner. The German news platform WELT AM SONNTAG published a story about how Russian spies used Tinder to search for profiles of Bundeswehr soldiers and politicians.
Increasing debate about uniforms and workwear on the internet
In recent years, I’ve increasingly noticed that the visibility of uniforms and workwear online is causing problems. While these issues don’t usually have national security implications, they do often lead to consequences.
What people sometimes don’t realize—often younger individuals—is that a photo in work attire changes the context of the image. For instance, posting a suggestive photo in personal clothing will likely cause less controversy than when that same clothing features a company logo. No matter how small, someone is always bound to notice.
It all seems quite logical, yet every week I read about someone who got into trouble because of online photos in workwear. From police officers making adult content in uniform to young people posting TikTok videos in company attire, and even individuals committing crimes while wearing work uniforms. The more authority a uniform conveys, the greater the consequences tend to be. For example, police officers can be fired simply for sharing videos on social media in their uniforms.
Defense ministry’s advice
It’s striking that the Dutch Ministry of Defense only advises soldiers not to appear in uniform on dating apps. They also advise against mentioning their employer. If this truly impacts national security, such advice seems rather lenient to me. A ban would make more sense. While you can’t entirely prevent a soldier from being tracked, sharing photos or mentioning your role makes it significantly easier.
No matter how sexy your uniform makes you feel, your safety—or that of your country—is just a bit more important.
Best regards,
Aileen