RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
The United States military has disabled advertising tracking features on a range of mobile phones and computers following concerns that commercially available location data could have been used to track and target American forces deployed in the Middle East.
The move was disclosed in letters released by US Senator Ron Wyden and statements provided to Reuters, following reports that location information collected through advertising networks and sold by data brokers had created potential security risks for military personnel.
The US Air Force informed Senator Wyden that it disabled advertising identifiers on computers and mobile devices about two months ago, while the US Special Operations Command said it had recently taken similar action on its Windows devices. The Army also confirmed that advertising IDs linked to mobile devices had been disabled earlier in 2026.
The disclosures have renewed concerns among US lawmakers and security officials over the risks posed by the commercial data industry, where companies collect and sell digital information that can reveal the locations and movements of individuals.
Senator Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, has been pressing the Pentagon on the issue for months. He and Representative Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, have requested an investigation into whether the military has done enough to address threats linked to location data trading.
Wyden said military efforts so far had not fully neutralised the threat, while Harrigan warned that US adversaries should not be able to obtain information that could assist in tracking American troops.
Mobile advertising identifiers, commonly known as MAIDs, are unique codes attached to devices that allow companies to monitor activity across applications and estimate users’ physical locations.
Privacy experts said disabling the identifiers would reduce the amount of location information available through bulk data sales, although they warned that other tracking methods, including network information and app-based data collection, could still pose risks.
The decision comes amid broader US military efforts to tighten restrictions on device usage by personnel stationed in conflict areas, following concerns that digital activity and online posts could expose sensitive information about military positions and operations.
The Pentagon said it would respond directly to lawmakers regarding the concerns raised.
