U.S. Military Shuts Off Ad Tracking on Government Devices to Counter Foreign Adversary Surveillance
Every branch of the U.S. military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and U.S. Special Operations Command, has implemented measures to disable advertising trackers on government-issued phones and computers. This action aims to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring location data that could be used to target American service members. The restrictions apply to iPhones, Android devices, and Windows computers across the military's enterprise network. This move follows sustained pressure from Senator Ron Wyden, who previously informed military leaders that foreign adversaries had tracked U.S. troops in the Middle East using commercially purchased location data. Reports from 2018, 2021, and 2024 highlighted instances where fitness apps like Strava and other commercially available data exposed sensitive military locations, operations, and personnel movements. The military's decision is a direct response to mounting evidence that such data was being exploited against U.S. forces, particularly d... 
