US military disables ad trackers on troops’ phones amid security fears
Senator releases letters from armed forces after reports of location data being used to track US troops in Middle East
TL;DR
- US military branches, including the Air Force, US Special Operations Command, and the Army, have disabled advertising trackers on their devices.
- This action follows reports that location data from commercial sources was used to target US forces in the Middle East.
- Senator Ron Wyden has been pressing the Pentagon on this issue, highlighting it as a growing national security concern.
- Advertising IDs (MAID) are unique identifiers that can track device activity and pinpoint physical location, making them a potential tool for adversaries.
- Concerns persist that even with disabled MAIDs, personnel could still be tracked through other, more complex methods.