That Soccer Ball Vlad Gave President Trump Reportedly Contains A Chip Transmitter…

Ok, guys. This is weird. Like it seriously feels like some hardcore tinfoil hat stuff, but it’s being reported by the Hill and the Washington Times, so it felt sharable.

That ball Putin gave Trump? Remember?

It might have some kind of digital tracker in it.

According to the Hill:

The Adidas soccer ball Russian President Vladimir Putin gave to President Trump at their summit in Finland appears to contain a chip that can transmit information to nearby cell phones, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The publication noted that photos of the ball show a logo for a near-field communication (NFC) tag, a chip that is included in the Adidas 2018 FIFA World Cup ball. Russia hosted this year’s World Cup.

But it’s not like Putin PERSONALLY put a chip in it. All balls of this model have one.

Adidas AG soccer balls, similar to the one Putin presented to Trump during a joint press conference last week, contain a small chip that can send content to mobile devices. Users can hold their phones close to the ball to access videos and competitions, according to Bloomberg.

…Oh.

Adidas declined to comment to Bloomberg on whether the device could be used in a Russian cyberattack. The brand’s website states that the chip can’t be modified.

So are we getting a little too caught up in this?

Maybe not.

The publication reported that such a chip has been used at least one to breach a phone, though a cybersecurity expert told Bloomberg that it’s unlikely that a cyberattack could be launched using the device.

The ball HAS been thoroughly screened by the Secret Service:

The soccer ball underwent a security screening as part of the routine procedure for all gifts given to the president, the U.S. Secret Service said last week.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had said on Twitter that the ball should be inspected for “listening devices” and that he would “never allow it in the White House.”

It’s unknown if the chip — if it was in the ball at all — was removed before or after it was given to Trump.

So… much to do about nothing?

Or a genuine concern?