The Pentagon has confirmed that U.S. military personnel in active war zones are being tracked and targeted by foreign adversaries using commercially available smartphone location data.
According to a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) memo disclosed by lawmakers on Thursday and reported by CNN, the military has received multiple threat reports of enemy forces using data harvested from digital advertising networks. Lawmakers, including Representative Pat Harrigan (R-NC), warned that adversaries are using this "adtech" data to map troop patterns and coordinate drone, missile, and roadside bomb attacks.
The problem is affecting forces in the Middle East amid the conflict with Iran. Conservative lawmakers are demanding Pentagon action, pressing Big Tech platforms like Google over security vulnerabilities on government-issued devices and arguing the adtech industry should be treated as a threat to American lives.
