Archive · 5 Sep 2026
U.S. Military Disables Ad Trackers Amid Middle East Targeting Fears
The U.S. military turned off a digital feature that can help companies track phones and computers.
This feature is called a mobile advertising ID.
Apps and data brokers can use these IDs with location information to learn where a device has been.
Officials worry that this information could help adversaries locate American troops in the Middle East.
The Air Force, Army, and Special Operations Command reported disabling the feature on various devices.
The Army said its Windows computers had been protected since before 2021.
It said the feature was disabled by default on Android and Apple mobile devices since at least February 2026.
Lawmakers want the Pentagon to check whether these steps are strong enough.
A privacy expert said the change helps, but other information from apps and networks could still reveal a device’s location.
The U.S. military disabled advertising identifiers on phones and computers used by personnel across several branches.
The Air Force disabled the identifiers about two months ago, while Special Operations Command recently blocked them on Windows devices.
The Army said Windows identifiers had been blocked before 2021 and mobile identifiers were disabled by default since at least February 2026.
Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Pat Harrigan asked the Pentagon to investigate commercial location-data risks.
Experts said disabling mobile advertising IDs reduces exposure but does not prevent tracking through apps, networks, or device information.
- Who
- The U.S. military, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Pat Harrigan, military branches, and privacy expert Zach Edwards.
- What
- Military branches disabled advertising identifiers on various phones and computers amid concerns that commercial location data could expose American troops.
- When
- The disclosures were reported on September 5, 2026; the branches cited different implementation dates, including about two months earlier and at least February 2026.
- Where
- On military-operated devices, particularly those used by personnel deployed in the Middle East.
- Why
- To reduce the risk that advertising companies and data brokers could provide location information to adversaries seeking to track or target U.S. forces.
Supporters of Disabling Ad IDs
Lawmakers Seeking Stronger Protections
Value of the measure
Supporters of Disabling Ad IDs
Zach Edwards said disabling MAIDs on military-operated devices was definitely positive and could prevent device locations from entering bulk commercial data sales.
Lawmakers Seeking Stronger Protections
Ron Wyden said the military’s efforts had not effectively neutralized the threat, while Pat Harrigan said adversaries should not be able to buy information that helps track American troops.
Whether the threat has been addressed
Supporters of Disabling Ad IDs
Military branches reported disabling advertising identifiers to reduce the location data generated by personnel’s devices.
Lawmakers Seeking Stronger Protections
Wyden and Harrigan said a Pentagon investigation was needed to determine whether the military had adequately countered risks from the commercial location-data trade.
Limits of the restrictions
Supporters of Disabling Ad IDs
Disabling advertising IDs removes one source of commercially available location information from military-operated devices.
Lawmakers Seeking Stronger Protections
The measure alone may not eliminate tracking because apps and combinations of network, location, and technical device data could still identify a device’s location.
- Technology
- Mobile advertising IDs, or MAIDs, are unique device identifiers that can link activity across apps and help determine physical location.
- Air Force
- The Air Force said it disabled advertising identifiers on computers and mobile phones about two months ago.
- Special Operations Command
- The command said it recently disabled the identifiers on Windows devices.
- Army
- The Army said identifiers were blocked on Windows computers before 2021 and disabled by default on Android and Apple mobile devices since at least February 2026.
- Navy
- Letters indicated that advertising identifiers were disabled on military devices, but the timing was not specified; the Navy did not respond to a request for comment.
- Lawmakers’ request
- Ron Wyden and Pat Harrigan asked the Pentagon to investigate whether the military had adequately addressed risks from the commercial location-data market.
- Remaining risks
- Apps, network signals, location data, and technical device information could still potentially be combined to track devices.
Sources
Iran Tracking US Troops? Ad Trackers Blocked On Military Devices Over Targeting Fears
US military disables ad trackers on phones, computers amid target fears in Middle East: Report
US Military Disables Ad Trackers Amid Middle East Targeting Reports