Commercial Phone Location Data Raises Security Concerns for US Troops
U.S. military personnel in the Middle East may face risks from adversaries using commercially available cellphone location data, according to written responses from U.S. Central Command to lawmakers. CENTCOM, which oversees American operations in the region, said it has received multiple threat reports indicating that foreign actors have exploited such data to surveil or target U.S. personnel in theater.
The issue involves location information collected through commercial apps, advertising systems, and data brokers, similar to data routinely generated by civilian smartphone users. CENTCOM said it has used the reports to assess vulnerabilities and shape force-protection measures. Service members in the region may use personal phones, but they receive guidance on disabling geolocation features and reviewing privacy settings. The command noted, however, that turning off geolocation does not always fully stop commercial products from collecting or exposing location information.
Government-issued phones are configured to limit mobile advertising tracking, but some settings can still be changed by users. The Defense Information Systems Agency is working to remove that option, according to the responses.
In a letter to the Pentagon’s chief information officer, more than a dozen lawmakers said the Department of Defense has not done enough to address risks posed by the collection and sale of personal information. They requested details on steps being taken to protect troops from data-related threats.
Military leaders have issued broader warnings about cellphone use in combat environments. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has said careless use of texts, posts, or location sharing can reveal units’ positions and endanger operations. Similar concerns have emerged from the war in Ukraine, where cellphone signals, social media activity, and open-source information have reportedly been used to locate forces.
The Pentagon now faces questions about how to balance connectivity, operational needs, and security during modern overseas military deployments and operations.