U.S. Army Disables Ad Trackers on Devices After Reports of Location Data Use in Middle East Attacks
The U.S. Army has turned off advertising identifiers on its computers and mobile phones, officials say in letters released by Senator Ron Wyden and statements to Reuters. The change follows reports that location data from these commercial trackers was used in attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The U.S. Army is tightening digital security on its own networks after reports that commercial advertising data was used to target American troops.
According to U.S. military officials, the Army has deactivated advertising identifiers on computers and mobile phones. These identifiers are codes used in apps and operating systems that help enable targeted advertising by tracking user activity.
The move was disclosed in letters released by Senator Ron Wyden and in statements given to Reuters. It follows reports that data derived from these advertising identifiers was linked to attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Turning off ad identifiers on military devices is intended to reduce the amount of location and usage information that can be collected and potentially sold on commercial data markets. Such information can reveal patterns of movement and presence at specific sites.
This step underscores how consumer technology features originally built for marketing can create security risks when used on military systems. It also highlights the difficulty of controlling data exposure when service members rely on smartphones and other connected devices.
Signals to watch include whether other branches of the U.S. government adopt similar measures, any changes announced by major mobile platforms on access to advertising identifiers, and potential moves in Congress to regulate the sale of precise location data more tightly.
Sources
- OSINT