US troops in war zones reportedly targeted using commercial location data

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces deployed in active war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, according to exclusive Reuters reporting that underscores how the global surveillance economy is increasingly shaping modern battlefields.

Dig deeper:

Reuters reported that, in a letter shared by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Central Command said it had "received multiple threat reports concerning adversary exploitation of commercial location data to target or surveil U.S. personnel in theater." The April 14 message did not provide additional details, but Centcom oversees operations in the Gulf region, where U.S. forces have faced tensions with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

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By the numbers:

According to Reuters, the disclosure marked the first official confirmation that American troops had been targeted in an active war zone through the use of commercial location data. Wyden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers described the development in a letter sent Thursday to the Pentagon.

What they're saying:

"Commercial location data can be used to identify where U.S. troops congregate and their pattern of life, which can be exploited by adversaries to target attacks such as missiles, drones, and roadside bombs, as well as for counterintelligence purposes," the lawmakers wrote. Wyden added in a statement that it was time to "start treating the adtech industry as a national security threat."

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The other side:

Reuters also reported that the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. In their letter, lawmakers said efforts to obtain additional information from military officials about the reported targeting incidents had been unsuccessful.

Why you should care:

Location data has become a cornerstone of the digital advertising industry and a major revenue driver for many technology companies. The information is typically gathered through smartphones and apps, then sold to data brokers that aggregate and resell it through sprawling networks of intermediaries.

While privacy advocates have long warned about the risks of putting people’s daily movements on the open market, lawmakers and security officials are increasingly raising alarms about the national security implications as well.