--- title: "US military disables ad trackers on government devices" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-09-04T20:25:10.676Z" source_reported: "2026-09-04T18:26:15.000Z" updated: "2026-09-04T20:25:10.676Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-04T20:15:31.322593+00:00" --- # US military disables ad trackers on government devices *Action taken amid concerns that location data could be used to track American personnel.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Reuters and Senator Ron Wyden, with multiple outlets citing these sources. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is consistent across outlets, but lacks direct quotes or specific details beyond the central claim. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use terms like 'death through advertising' and 'growing threat' without substantial elaboration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US military has disabled advertising identifiers (MAIDs) on government phones and computers. - This action was prompted by concerns that foreign adversaries could use commercially available location data to track or target American personnel. - Senator Ron Wyden's letters disclosed these changes. - Reuters reported that ad trackers may have revealed US troop positions to Iran. The US military has disabled advertising identifiers on government phones and computers. This action was taken due to concerns that foreign adversaries could use commercially available location data to track or target American personnel. The changes were disclosed in letters sent by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. ## Disagreement on timing The US Air Force stated it disabled these identifiers two months ago, according to Live Mint. US Special Operations Command disabled them more recently, according to the same report. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific timing of the disabling of identifiers by the US Air Force or US Special Operations Command. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific timing of the disabling of identifiers by the US Air Force or US Special Operations Command. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific timing of the disabling of identifiers by the US Air Force or US Special Operations Command. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 23% (5) - Centre: 36% (8) - Right: 41% (9) 20 of 42 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-04T20:15:31.322593+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-04T20:30:49.174Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Independent and The Independent (US) digests both led on the disabling of ad trackers by the US military. Both digests stated that this action followed reports that commercially available location data had been used to target American forces in the Middle East. The digests did not mention Senator Ron Wyden or specific branches of the military. ### Centre - TechCrunch and Live Mint digests both reported that a senator's letter confirmed the US military's move to disable ad tracking. TechCrunch stated this was after foreign adversaries used location data to target troops. Live Mint reported that the US Air Force disabled the identifiers two months ago, while US Special Operations Command did so more recently. ### Right - News-pravda.com, The Dallas Express News, wbap.com, Protothema, and Iefimerida digests all reported that the US military disabled advertising identifiers on government devices. News-pravda.com framed the story with the headline 'Death through advertising. will shutting down help?'. The Dallas Express News and wbap.com highlighted that this action followed location-data warnings. Protothema and Iefimerida mentioned fears of targeting soldiers in the Middle East. Several of these digests noted that the action was taken due to concerns about foreign adversaries using location data to track or target American personnel. The Dallas Express News and wbap.com mentioned that these changes were disclosed in military letters released by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 7 - high: 7 - unknown: 21 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/04/2566946.html) — Death through advertising. will shutting down help? The news may seem funny to some: Pentagon officials have disabled advertising identifiers (MAID) on the devices of US Army personnel in fear that Americans could be tracked.. - [The Dallas Express News](https://dallasexpress.com/national/u-s-military-disables-ad-trackers-after-location-data-warnings) — U.S. Military Disables Ad Trackers After Location-Data Warnings - [wbap.com](https://wbap.com/2026/09/04/u-s-military-disables-ad-trackers-after-location-data-warnings) — U.S. Military Disables Ad Trackers After Location-Data Warnings - [sofokleous10.gr](https://sofokleous10.gr/2026/09/04/%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%8C%CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%B5) — US Military Disables Mobile Phone Location Trackers: Fears of Targeting Soldiers in the Middle East - [koutipandoras.gr](https://koutipandoras.gr/article/reuters-oi-add-trackers-prodosan-sto-iran-tis-theseis-stratevmaton-ton-ipa) — Reuters: Add Trackers Betrayed US Troop Positions to Iran | Pandora's Box - [The Sunday Guardian Live](https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/us-israel-iran-war-latest-live-news-us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-troops-phones-and-computers-amid-iran-war-fears-as-commercial-location-data-raises-security-concerns-277081) — US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US Military Disables Ad Trackers on Troops’ Phones and Computers Amid Iran War Fears as Commercial Location Data Raises Security Concerns - [Unknown](https://eleftherostypos.gr/diethni/ipa-blokaroun-ta-diafimistika-minymata-apo-tis-ilektronikes-syskeves-ton-enoplon-dynameon) — US: They Block Advertising Messages From the Electronic Devices of the Armed Forces - [Unknown](https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/viyskovi-ssha-vimknuli-reklamni-trekeri-na-pristroyah-yak-protidiyali-rizikam-50638618.html) — US Military Disabled Advertising Trackers on Their Devices Due to Threat of Attack - [Unknown](https://janoubia.com/2026/09/04/%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A8) — Amid Fear of Targeting, Disrupting Commercial Tracking Devices on U.S. Soldiers' Phones. - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-military-ad-trackers-iran-war-b3044820.html) — US military disables ad trackers as data emerges as growing threat in Iran war - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-military-ad-trackers-iran-war-b3044820.html) — US military disables ad trackers as data emerges as growing threat in Iran war - [pelop.gr](https://pelop.gr/ipa-stratos-advertising-trackers-location-data) — US: Blocking Military Device Trackers - [IT Security News - cybersecurity, infosecurity news](https://itsecuritynews.info/us-military-disabled-ad-tracking-on-troops-devices-following-reports-of-targeted-attacks) — US military disabled ad tracking on troops’ devices following reports of targeted attacks - [Javanews.al](https://javanews.al/reuters-gjurmuesit-e-reklamave-mund-ti-kene-zbuluar-teheranit-pozicionet-e-trupave-amerikane) — Reuters: Ad Trackers May Have Revealed US Troop Positions to Tehran - [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/04/us-military-disabled-ad-tracking-on-troops-devices-following-reports-of-targeted-attacks) — US military disabled ad tracking on troops' devices following reports of targeted attacks - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1874042/o-amerikanikos-stratos-apenergopoiei-anihneutes-theseon-se-kinita-fovoi-gia-stohopoiisi-stratioton-sti-mesi-anatoli) — US Military Disables Mobile Phone Location Trackers: Fears of Targeting Soldiers in the Middle East - [Iefimerida](https://iefimerida.gr/kosmos/ipa-strato-dedomena-syskeyes-mesi-anatoli) — The US "Shields" the Military by Blocking Advertising Data on Devices - Fear of Tracking Forces in the Middle East - iefimerida.gr - [OnAlert](https://onalert.gr/kosmos/ipa-anisyxies-gia-ti-stoxeysi-stratiotikon-dynameon-meso-emporikon-dedomenon-topothesias/817230) — US: Concerns over Targeting of Military Forces Through Commercial Location Data - [CDE News](https://cde.news/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/us-news/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-phones-computers-amid-fears-iran-could-track-troops-reuters-donald-trump-jd-vance-11788525138151.html) — US military disables ad trackers on phones, computers amid target fears in Middle East: Report - [DiarioBitcoin](https://diariobitcoin.com/estados-unidos/fuerzas-armadas-de-ee-uu-desactivan-rastreadores-publicitarios-ante-riesgo-para-sus-tropas) — U.S. Armed Forces Deactivate Advertising Trackers at Risk for Their Troops · Global Voices - [Deccan Chronicle](https://deccanchronicle.com/world/us-military-shuts-off-ad-trackers-amid-fears-troops-could-be-targeted-1984849) — US Military Disables Ad Trackers Amid Middle East Targeting Reports - [The Express Tribune](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2627444/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [IOL Portugal](https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/eua/medio-oriente/eua-desativam-rastreadores-em-dispositivos-militares-dados-de-localizacao-estavam-a-expor-tropas-no-medio-oriente/20260904/6a9aab4ed34e511da0b36dd2) — U.S. Deactivates Trackers on Military Devices. Location Data Was Exposing Troops in the Middle East. - [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/news/2026/9/4/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%8a%d8%b4-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%83%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d8%b7%d9%84-%d8%a3%d8%af%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%aa%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%b9) — The U.S. Army Is Disrupting Advertising Tracking Devices for Fear of Targeting Their Troops. - [CNN Greece](https://cnn.gr/kosmos/story/550772/reuters-o-amerikanikos-stratos-apenergopoiei-tous-ixnilates-diafimiseon-gia-na-min-ginetai-stoxos) — Reuters: US Military Disables ad Trackers to Avoid Being Targeted - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3972544-exclusive-us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — EXCLUSIVE-US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [The Hindu](https://thehindu.com/news/international/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-west-asia-targeting-reports/article71427950.ece) — U.S. military turns off ad trackers on devices amid West Asia targeting reports - [δημοκρατία](https://dimokratia.gr/kosmos/740864/o-amerikanikos-stratos-apenergopoiei-ta-dedomena-topothesias-stis-syskeyes-enstolon-poy-vriskontai) — US Military Disables Location Data on Uniformed Personnel's Devices in the Middle East - [القدس العربي](https://alquds.co.uk/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%B7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84) — The U.S. Army Is Disrupting Commercial Tracking Devices on the Phones for Fear of Targeting Their Soldiers. - [Egyptian Gazette](https://egyptian-gazette.com/world/us-military-disables-device-ad-trackers-amid-me-targeting-reports) — US military disables device ad trackers amid ME targeting reports - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports-19984381.htm) — US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [ieidiseis.gr](https://ieidiseis.gr/kosmos/859567/synagermos-stis-ipa-gia-tin-asfaleia-ton-strateymaton-allazoyn-oi-kanones-asfaleias-gia-ta-kinita-kai-tis-topothesies) — US Troop Safety Alert — Mobile and Location Security Rules Are Changing - [The Star Kuala Lumpur](https://thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/09/04/exclusive-us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — Exclusive-US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — US military disables ad trackers on devices amid security risks - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/914f5ea6f094d639) — US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports-2026-09-04) — EXCLUSIVE: US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [Channel News Asia](https://channelnewsasia.com/business/exclusive-us-military-turns-ad-trackers-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports-6362831) — Exclusive-US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [PressNewsAgency](https://pressnewsagency.org/exclusive-us-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-on-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports) — Exclusive-US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/middle-east/article-907592) — US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid reports data used to target forces in Middle East - [IBTimes](https://ibtimes.com/ad-tracking-devices-are-reportedly-being-used-target-us-forces-middle-east-troops-are-taking-3807137) — Ad Tracking Devices Are Reportedly Being Used To Target U.S. Forces In The Middle East. Troops Are Taking Measures. - [Al-Monitor](https://al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/exclusive-us-military-turns-ad-trackers-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting) — Exclusive-US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports ## Questions **Why did the US military disable ad trackers?** The US military disabled advertising identifiers on government phones and computers due to concerns that foreign adversaries could use commercially available location data to track or target American personnel. This action was disclosed in letters from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. **What is the risk associated with ad trackers?** Commercially available location data collected through advertising trackers could potentially be used by foreign adversaries to identify and target US military personnel. Reuters reported that ad trackers may have revealed US troop positions to Iran. **Which branches of the US military are involved?** The US Air Force stated it disabled these identifiers two months ago. US Special Operations Command disabled them more recently. Other branches and commands have also taken this action. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US military disables ad trackers on government devices", https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-military-disables-ad-trackers-on-government-devices