US Military Disables Ad Trackers Amid Targeting Reports

U.S. military branches have disabled advertising identifiers on many phones and computers after reports that commercially available location data was used to track or target American forces in the Middle East. The Air Force said it shut off the identifiers on computers and mobile devices about two months ago, while U.S. Special Operations Command recently disabled them on Windows devices. The Army said advertising IDs had been blocked on Windows computers since before 2021 and disabled by default on Android and Apple devices since at least February 2026; the Navy also reported taking similar action but provided no timeline. The moves reflect concern that data brokers can sell advertising-derived location information exposing deployed personnel and military installations. Officials are considering broader limits on smartphone use, including possible confiscation of phones from some troops, while lawmakers Ron Wyden and Pat Harrigan have asked the Pentagon to investigate whether it adequately addressed the threat.