US troops targeted by commercial location data, CENTCOM

U.S. military personnel deployed in active combat zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, according to official reports from U.S. Central Command. This marks the first official confirmation that adversaries have exploited such data to surveil or target American forces in a war zone.

The disclosure came in a letter from Central Command shared by Senator Ron Wyden, which stated the command had received multiple threat reports concerning this exploitation. The message, dated April 14, did not provide specific details about the incidents. Central Command oversees operations in the Gulf region, where U.S. forces are engaged amid tensions with Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

In a separate letter sent to the Pentagon, Wyden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers highlighted the risks. They warned that commercial location data can reveal where troops congregate and their daily routines, information adversaries could use to direct attacks such as missiles, drones, or roadside bombs, or for counterintelligence purposes. Wyden stated it was time to treat the advertising technology industry as a national security threat.