US military disables ad tracking on government devices, but senators warn troops still at risk
U.S. military branches have disabled ad tracking on government devices after lawmakers warned foreign powers could exploit location data, but senators say personal devices and past data still leave troops exposed.
Wyden later shared the service branches' responses, which some completed earlier this year, with the Air Force reportedly finishing in July 2026. Wyden and Senator Pat Harrigan praised the move but said further steps are needed.
"We commend these service branches for implementing this cybersecurity defensive best practice on government devices," the senators wrote. "However, recent reports regarding the continued availability of commercial location data originating from DoD facilities raise troubling questions."
According to a report on Wyden's website, the data could still be available because it may originate from personal devices carried by servicemembers and government contractors, rather than government phones. Commercial location data gathered before the tracking was disabled also remains on sale, presenting a continuing risk.
Wyden and Harrigan have called on the DoD inspector general to examine commercial location data that the DoD and other agencies have already purchased to determine why existing policies have not prevented servicemembers' location data from being sold online, and to recommend policy changes to better protect U.S. personnel.