US troops are reportedly being targeted using location data, Pentagon says
21 hours ago
- #data-privacy
- #adtech-risks
- #military-security
- U.S. forces in war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, as confirmed by military officials, highlighting battlefield risks from the surveillance economy.
- A letter from U.S. lawmakers warns that commercial location data can reveal troop movements and patterns, enabling adversaries to launch attacks or conduct counterintelligence.
- The trade in location data, collected via smartphones and apps for digital advertising, raises both privacy and national security concerns, with past incidents tracking military personnel.
- Lawmakers criticize the Pentagon for not acting faster to protect personnel, suggesting measures like disabling advertising IDs and limiting location sharing on devices.
- Google defends Chrome's security but advocates for stronger safeguards against data brokers, amid calls to treat the adtech industry as a national security threat.