U.S. Military Disables Ad Tracking on Troops’ Devices After Location Privacy Concerns

The U.S. Department of Defence has disabled advertising tracking on government-issued phones and computers used by military personnel following concerns that commercially collected location data could be used to identify and target troops.

The change applies across devices managed by the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command, according to a letter shared with Senator Ron Wyden. The protections cover government-issued iPhones, Android devices, and Windows computers connected to federal military enterprise networks.

Reuters reported that the military introduced the measures earlier this year, with the Air Force implementing its changes more recently in July.

Military Aims to Reduce Risks From Location Tracking

The move is intended to limit adversaries’ ability to use location data collected by apps on military devices. Mobile applications often share location data with third-party companies and data brokers, which can sell it in commercial markets.

Advertising identifiers, which help companies track users for targeted advertising, can make it easier to connect location information to specific individuals. Turning off those identifiers makes it more difficult to associate collected location data with particular service members.

Senator Ron Wyden previously raised concerns about location data risks in a letter to military leaders after learning that foreign adversaries had used commercially obtained location information to target U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Concerns Remain Over Personal Devices

Wyden said the military’s decision to reduce advertising tracking was a positive step but warned that personal devices belonging to troops and contractors could still create security risks when brought onto military installations.

The issue has drawn broader attention because U.S. government agencies have acknowledged risks associated with commercially available location data. The U.S. intelligence community and the FBI have also confirmed that they purchase this type of data for surveillance and intelligence purposes without obtaining a warrant.

The Defence Department’s action focuses on government-managed devices, while questions remain about how personal devices used by military personnel could affect location privacy and security.