GoKawiilPentagon disables ad-tracking IDs on military phones and computers
US military branches confirmed to Senator Ron Wyden and Reuters that they have turned off advertising identifiers on service members' phones and computers. The Air Force disabled them two months ago, Special Operations Command did so recently, and the Army says mobile ad IDs have been off since earlier this year, with Windows devices blocked since before 2021.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Advertising identifiers generate location data that brokers buy and sell, and reporting has shown this data could be exploited to track and target troops in conflict zones like the Middle East. The move reflects mounting alarm within the Pentagon that commercial surveillance tools pose a real operational security threat, prompting broader restrictions on phone use by deployed personnel.
- Air Force, Army and Special Operations Command have all disabled ad-tracking IDs on devices.
- Data brokers' resale of location data raised fears it could help adversaries locate US troops.
- Military is also considering wider phone restrictions after concerns that geotagged videos aided Iranian targeting.
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Published there as: “US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones”
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