US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones
The US military has disabled advertising trackers on mobile devices and computers used by troops to prevent location data from being exploited. This move follows reports that commercial data brokers were selling information that could be used to track military personnel in the Middle East.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing national security risks posed by the commercial data brokerage industry and the vulnerability of military personnel to digital surveillance.
Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon, Democrat, has pressed the Pentagon on the issue of location data for months. Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon, Democrat, has pressed the Pentagon on the issue of location data for months. US military 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
Prefer the Guardian on Google US military officials say they have disabled advertising trackers on a range of phones and computers, according to letters released on Friday by the US senator Ron Wyden and statements given to Reuters.
The development follows reports that commercially available location data had been used to target American forces in the Middle East.
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