Why Joe Biden may not be able to bring his Peloton to the White House

Peloton bikes typically have cameras that connect to the Internet

Why Joe Biden may not be able to bring his Peloton to the White House (AFP via Getty Images)

President-elect Joe Biden may have to leave behind his high-tech Peloton when he moves into the White House over concerns the exercise bike could pose a national security risk.

Peloton, known for its cult-like following that has seen everyone from celebrities to elected officials shelling out thousands of dollars for a stationary bike, promises “game-changing cardio”.

During an episode of Mr Biden’s podcast Here’s The Deal, he revealed that he himself relies on a Peloton to get exercise amid the pandemic.

Explaining that he finds following a routine helpful in dealing with his day, the 78-year-old said: “I try to get out of bed by eight o’clock in the morning and I have a gym in my house upstairs. I have a treadmill and a Peloton bike and some weights. And I try to work out every morning for me. That sort of gets me going.”

However, the bike’s starting price of $1,895 doesn’t just allow its users to pedal, as it also includes access to thousands of exercise classes, a microphone, and a built-in camera, which connects through the Internet.

It is the exercise equipment’s Internet-connected microphone and camera that is cause for concern, according to Popular Mechanics, which notes that experts believe the technology could be prone to risks such as hacking.

“Because you're connected to the Internet, even though there are firewalls and intrusion detection software ... those things can be gotten around if you’re really good and skilled," Max Kilger, PhD, director of the data analytics program and associate professor in practice at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told the outlet.

If a hacker gained access to the future president’s Peloton, they could theoretically gain access to any connected devices as well, such as an Apple Watch, Kilger said.

According to Kilger, for the bike to be truly secure, one would need to remove the camera, microphone and networking equipment, steps he believes the Secret Service may take.

However, he also notes that without the technology, you “basically have a boring bike” not unlike any other stationary bike.

While it may be disappointing for the future president, he wouldn’t be the first White House resident to be granted access to technology only once it has been modified.

In Barack Obama’s memoir A Promised Land, he recalled being allowed only a specially modified Blackberry that could send emails but not make phone calls during his time as president.

"I was able to keep my BlackBerry – or, rather, I was given a new, specially modified device, approved only after several weeks of negotiations with various cybersecurity personnel. With it, I could send and receive emails, though only from a vetted list of twenty or so contacts, and the internal microphone and headphone jack had been removed, so that the phone function didn’t work,” the former president wrote. “Michelle joked that my BlackBerry was like one of those play phones you give toddlers, where they get to press buttons and it makes noises and things light up but nothing actually happens."

There may be a way around Peloton’s security concerns, however, as The Verge notes that former first lady Michelle Obama may have a “modified” Peloton bike without a camera or microphone.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Peloton told The Independent: “We don't share information about individual members out of respect for their privacy.”