U.S. says troops were targeted with location data, as senator warns ad industry is a 'national security threat'

The Pentagon says adversaries bought commercial location data to monitor or target U.S. troops in active theaters.

A U.S. Central Command letter shared by Sen. Ron Wyden says data from apps, websites, and ads was used for surveillance.

The case shows how data brokers and the adtech ecosystem can turn everyday location tracking into a national security risk.

The findings raise fresh concerns about privacy, operational security, and oversight of commercial data sales.