The US military has disabled advertising identifiers across a range of devices to curb the use of commercial location data that could be exploited to track and target American troops.

The Air Force, Army, and US Special Operations Command confirmed the moves to Reuters and Senator Ron Wyden, with timelines indicating the actions began earlier in 2026, including the Air Force’s recent computer and mobile changes and Special Operations Command’s Windows device bans, while the Army had previously disabled mobile advertising IDs in 2021 and completed Android/iPhone reductions by February 2026.

Reuters reports suggest that US personnel in the Middle East may have already been targeted through commercial location data, prompting ongoing warnings and corrective steps through 2026.

The article includes journalistic context and provides contact information for TechCrunch security editor Zack Whittaker.

Experts welcomed the move but warned tracking could persist through other channels such as app behavior, device details, network data, or triangulation techniques.

Senator Wyden has long advocated for privacy safeguards, highlighting broader concerns about government and agency use of location data for surveillance.

Overall, the push to reduce consumer data and location tracking is presented as urgent, with actions across military branches aimed at reducing exposure for personnel in operational environments.

The report builds on prior coverage and documents discussing location data risks to national security.

Wyden has warned that publicly available location data could reveal troop congregations and life patterns, potentially enabling targeted or counterintelligence threats.

Wyden underscored ongoing concerns about on-base exposure via personal devices, while acknowledging cautious optimism about the new measures.

The piece underscores ongoing security concerns about smartphones generating sensitive location information in conflict zones and the broader implications of data used for advertising.

The story points to a broader shift toward stricter controls on personal device data within the military to limit adversaries’ access to location information.