US Military Disables Ad Trackers on Troop Devices Amid Foreign Targeting Fears

The U.S. military has taken action to disable advertising trackers on service members' phones and computers, a move prompted by concerns that foreign adversaries could exploit commercially available location data to identify and target American troops. This decision follows a report detailing how such data, often collected through apps, has been used in past incidents to pinpoint military personnel.

Senator Ron Wyden's office confirmed the military's response, highlighting the vulnerability of troop movements to exploitation. The military's directive aims to mitigate these risks by preventing the continuous collection and potential sale of location information associated with its personnel, thereby enhancing operational security and protecting service members from potential threats.