US military disabled ad tracking on troops’ devices following reports of targeted attacks
TechCrunch · 2026-09-04
The U.S. military has reportedly disabled ad tracking on troops' personal devices after Senator Ron Wyden raised concerns about foreign adversaries using commercially obtained location data to target service members. Wyden's letter to military leaders earlier this year cited instances where unnamed foreign adversaries targeted U.S. troops in the Middle East by exploiting this data. While the military's move to reduce advertising tracking is commendable, Wyden warned that personal devices brought onto military bases could still pose a risk to service members and facilities. The U.S. intelligence community and FBI have confirmed they purchase similar location data for surveillance and intelligence collection without a warrant.