U.S. says troops were targeted with location data, as senator warns ad industry is a ‘national security threat’

The U.S. Department of Defense has revealed that adversaries have been tracking and surveilling military personnel in combat zones by utilizing commercial location data. This alarming situation highlights the potential dangers of information gathered from mobile devices and computers, which can be misused to pinpoint and target individuals. In a letter shared with TechCrunch by Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Central Command acknowledged that it is aware of hostile entities purchasing location data to monitor U.S. servicemembers. "USCENTCOM has received multiple threat reports concerning adversary exploitation of commercial location data to target or surveil U.S. personnel in theater," the letter stated. However, it refrained from providing specific incidents or details, and a representative from the Department of Defense did not respond to requests for additional comments. The practice of collecting location data often originates from mobile phones and computers through online advertisements. This data is then sold by brokers on the open market, sometimes to governments and military establishments like the United States, without the necessity of a warrant. In recent years, the FBI has advised consumers to utilize ad blockers to reduce the data that apps, websites, and software can capture. Senator Wyden emphasized to Reuters that it is crucial to start recognizing the adtech industry as a potential national security concern.