US military officials have disabled advertising trackers on troops' phones and computers following reports that commercial location data was used to track American forces in the Middle East, according to letters released by Senator Ron Wyden and statements to Reuters.
Key facts
- US military officials say they have disabled advertising trackers on a range of phones and computers.
- The move was disclosed in letters released on Friday by Senator Ron Wyden and in statements to Reuters.
- The action follows reports that commercially available location data had been used to target US troops in the Middle East.
- Full details of the letters and the specific measures taken have not been provided in the available reporting.
US military officials say they have disabled advertising trackers on a range of phones and computers, according to letters released on Friday by US Senator Ron Wyden and statements given to Reuters.
The development follows reports that commercially available location data had been used to target American forces in the Middle East, according to the Guardian.
The letters were released by Wyden and came from the armed forces. The full contents of the letters and the specific steps taken by the military have not been detailed in the available reporting.
It was not immediately clear when the reported targeting occurred, which units were affected, or the full scope of the measures the military has adopted in response.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about how commercially traded location data generated by phone apps could expose the movements of military personnel, though the available reporting does not yet detail the scale of the risk or the military's full response.
Frequently asked questions
What action did the US military take?
US military officials say they have disabled advertising trackers on a range of phones and computers, according to letters released by Senator Ron Wyden and statements to Reuters.
Why were the trackers disabled?
The move followed reports that commercially available location data had been used to target American forces in the Middle East, according to the Guardian.
How was the information made public?
The information came from letters released on Friday by Senator Ron Wyden and from statements given to Reuters.