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US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

theguardian.com

21–30 of 104 posts

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#23

Could probably get a lot of actionable military information about troop locations by running targeted ads for subprime auto loans and divorce lawyers and collecting location information, discarding any US locations.

You say that like it’s not already happening.

I have no doubt it’s already being used if it was the first thought that popped into my head.

It’s less obvious than looking at Strava maps, but still low hanging fruit.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#24

It sounds like they disabled the "advertising ID" OS feature, but there are many other ways to fingerprint a device for advertising. Maybe this will lead to real privacy reform, now that the true risks are apparent. Not to mention ICE using the same data against civilians.

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It now directly affects the troops and military, who they ostensibly do care about. Maybe the citizens can have a little privacy reform, as a trickle-down treat.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It now directly affects the troops and military, who they ostensibly do care about. Maybe the citizens can have a little privacy reform, as a trickle-down treat.

maybe trickle-down privacy will be more successful than trickle-down economics. one can hope.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#26

Wait until they realize that military spouses and children might also need this, and government employees, and sensitive contractors, etc. It’s almost as if “ad trackers” shouldn’t exist at all. The US government used to love this stuff when it was the only one who could abuse it. There might be a different outlook now that the tables have turned.

It seems like stalking laws in most jurisdictions should already cover this. Is there any legal precedent that could help without the need for new laws?

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#27

Hopefully they aren't forcing the military to install Trump's spyware White House app

The rules for DoD phones are different than the rest of the Executive Branch. I don't know if it will eventually roll out to DoD phones; but, that was what we were told and we haven't seen it yet.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#29

Wait until they realize that military spouses and children might also need this, and government employees, and sensitive contractors, etc. It’s almost as if “ad trackers” shouldn’t exist at all. The US government used to love this stuff when it was the only one who could abuse it. There might be a different outlook now that the tables have turned.

It seems like stalking laws in most jurisdictions should already cover this. Is there any legal precedent that could help without the need for new laws?

In a different legal environment this would be a good approach, but currently I don’t think the courts would accept this argument, as they are trying to push Congress to legislate rules on things like this (which Congress steadfastly refuses to do). Prior courts were more willing to “legislate from the bench” but current justices have expressed concern that Congress is abdicating its rulemaking responsibility.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It now directly affects the troops and military, who they ostensibly do care about. Maybe the citizens can have a little privacy reform, as a trickle-down treat.

If they cared about the troops, they wouldn't send them on bullshit missions like whatever we're doing in Iran.
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