U.S. Military Disables Ad Trackers on Devices Amid Targeting Concerns
· World · The Hindu, Reuters
The U.S. military has disabled advertising identifiers on various phones and computers to prevent the tracking of personnel deployed to war zones. The Air Force and Special Operations Command confirmed they recently removed these trackers, while the Army has blocked them on mobile devices since earlier this year. This move follows reports that commercially available location data, sold by data brokers, was being used to target American forces in West Asia. The Army noted that advertising IDs on its Windows computers have been restricted since before 2021, with mobile restrictions following in February 2026. Military officials are currently evaluating broader, stricter policies regarding the use of personal mobile devices by deployed personnel.
Why it matters
The measure aims to protect U.S. military personnel from being physically targeted by adversaries using location data harvested from commercial advertising networks. It reflects a shift in operational security as the military grapples with the risks posed by the widespread sale of personal data by third-party brokers.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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