US Military Disables Advertising Trackers on Troops’ Devices Over Security Concerns

US military officials have taken steps to disable advertising trackers on various phones and computers used by service members, according to letters released by Senator Ron Wyden and statements provided to Reuters. This action follows reports that commercially available location data was exploited to target American troops deployed in the Middle East. The Air Force confirmed it disabled advertising identifiers on its devices two months ago, while the US Special Operations Command stated it recently disabled these trackers on Windows machines. The Army reported that advertising IDs on mobile devices have been disabled since earlier this year. Senator Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, has been pressing the Pentagon for months to address this issue. These developments underscore a growing national security concern: location data collected and sold by advertising companies and data brokers can be used to track military personnel in sensitive areas. Although the Air Force and Special Operations Command declined to provide further comments, the Army noted that advertising IDs have been blocked on Windows computers since before 2021, with Android and Apple devices having the feature disabled by default since at least February 2026. The Navy did not respond to requests for comment. This initiative to limit location data exposure coincides with broader discussions within the military about imposing stricter controls on phone usage. In July, reports surfaced that some deployed troops in the Middle East might be required to surrender their phones due to concerns that videos posted online were aiding adversaries, such as Iran, in targeting US bases. Senator Wyden and Representative Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, sent a letter to the Pentagon requesting an investigation into whether the military has adequately addressed the risks posed by the commercial location data trade. They included updates from various service branches on disabling advertising IDs on military devices. Wyden remarked that the military’s current measures have not fully neutralized the threat, while Harrigan emphasized that foreign adversaries should not be able to purchase data that helps track American troops. The Pentagon has stated it will respond directly to the lawmakers. Mobile advertising IDs (MAIDs) are unique device identifiers used to track user activity across apps and determine physical location. Zach Edwards, co-founder of privacy-focused ad tech firm Decryptads, described the military’s disabling of MAIDs as a positive step. However, he cautioned that troops might still be vulnerable to tracking through more complex methods, such as combining device details with network information or other location data.