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U.S. says troops were targeted with location data, as senator warns ad industryis a ‘national security threat’
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that adversaries are using commercial location data to surveil military personnel. Senator Ron Wyden highlighted concerns over the ad industry's role in national security, as this data often comes from ads and is unregulated, allowing tracking of individuals without warrants.
Key points
- U.S. Central Command reported that adversaries target military personnel using purchased location data.
- Commercial location data is collected from phones and computers via online advertising and sold by data brokers.
- Governments, including the U.S., have previously purchased this data without warrants.
- Senator Ron Wyden warns the ad industry poses a national security threat due to data exploitation.
Why it matters
- The trend of data privacy concerns is growing, particularly in light of the 2025 push for stronger regulations on data collection.
- Comparative to past instances, such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where personal data misuse raised alarms.
- The U.S. military's vulnerability to commercial data exploitation echoes broader trends in cybersecurity threats faced by governments worldwide.
The exploitation of commercial location data to target U.S. servicemembers raises significant security concerns and underscores the need for stricter ad industry regulations to protect personal data.