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US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

theguardian.com

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Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#91

Post by kelnos »

manphone wrote: post #67
iamnothere wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That’s a hilarious idea. Given the Supreme Court of today, afraid of legislating from the bench? Are you serious?

Most of the contentious SCOTUS decisions these days are the opposite of that, where they defer to Congress or the executive.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#93

Post by kstrauser »

throw0101d wrote: post #64
jdm2212 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC they actually don't and it materially reduced Meta's profit when Apple rolled out the advertiser ID system.

"Facebook says Apple iOS privacy change will result in $10 billion revenue hit this year" (2022): * https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/02/facebook-says-apple-ios-priv... See also perhaps "It’s not Meta - its APPLE who have screwed us small advertisers": * https://www.reddit.com/r/FacebookAds/comments/1o85w2q/

Won't someone please think of the poor advertisers? /s

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#94

Post by mmooss »

If they can do it effectively, that would be impressive. There are so many ways phones and other devices are tracked. Do they prevent users from installing apps?

For example, I was reading Apple's Platform Security guide, a technical, detailed manual: There are so many identifiers, before any applications are installed - really, before the OS is fully loaded - that it's hard to keep track of them, manage them, or even form a mental picture of what's going on. Apple in many ways requires you to send those identifiers to them in order to use the device.

Apple is trying to protect consumers by operating the Root of Trust for the consumer devices, something consumers can't do effectively for themselves. And maybe Apple provides large customers with means to become their own root of trust; some of Apple's keys are embedded during manufacturing but other vendors allow large customers to substitute their own keys at that stage.

Regardless, it makes Apple an incredibly valuable target for highly resourced attackers, like the kind targeting the US military: Gain the right authority at Apple and you can monitor and control Apple devices worldwide. I'm not sure how the US military protects themselves without highly managed, locked down, customized devices.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#96

Post by MSFT_Edging »

metiscus wrote: post #69
ferguess_k wrote: post #61

Does it make sense to give the troops special phones instead of their own? I always find it weird that soldiers can take their own phones into the base.

Most of what goes on on most bases is as unsecret as it gets. The rooms where sensitive things happen have security measures in place and they keep you from bringing your phone in there. Usually a little locker is provided where you store your phone while you are inside the protected area. In some very sensitive places there may be additional active and passive measures but usually people with access to those areas p…

Like a lot of data collection, the meta data gets you pretty far. The who's and where's can be hoovered up with tracking data buys and essentially get you a nice list of who has access to certain areas, which can be used for targeting individuals.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#98

Post by nonameiguess »

derektank wrote: post #48
nonameiguess wrote: post #19

These things need to include more details. What is the report that ads were used to target deployed troops? What is the device use policy as of today? FOBs and semi-permanent installations are not secret locations. They're extremely obvious, have marked fences, gates, and guards in uniform. They're on satellite and aerial photos, sometimes on maps, depending on how long they've been in place. During patrols and any o…

>Unit commanders have your social media accounts and monitor what you do there. I’m prior Air Force, so never been deployed to a FOB, but I have never had a commander ask me for my social media accounts. I’m not sure how this is even possible. I couldn’t even tell you all my social media accounts if you define social media as a platform where people communicate directly with one another publicly (forums, marketplaces…

That's entirely fair. It is an overstatement. What I meant was, when deployed or during an exercise, any radio communications you make, letters you write, television shows you watch, can be intercepted and read. It's not the case that 100% will be. Back in garrison, it depends on if you live in barracks or not. If you're off post, nobody is busting into your house in the middle of the night with no notice.

As for social media, it's not that they universally ask for access, but they know what is happening. I was commissioned and we knew when Soldiers shit talked us on social media. I didn't care most of the time and didn't do anything about it other than give a few warnings here and there for really egregious shit, but we knew. We can get the contents of what you post from your existing friends.

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#99

Post by aleph_minus_one »

Why even allow any mobile phone for the US solider if it could cause any arbitrary problem for the US military if the location data, name, unit, rank, ... of the respective soldier was published and permanently updated on a publicly viewable website?

It should be obvious that the US military has good reasons why this would be the death for many military strategies. So, why doesn't the military than treat every soldier who has a mobile phone near to him where the above could cause military problems to be a saboteur (perhaps even with the accusation of being a spy of a hostile nation) who should be charged by a military tribunal?

Re: US Military disables ad trackers on troops' phones

#100

Post by Havoc »

drnick1 wrote: post #81
Havoc wrote: post #4

Could also you know just ban invasive tracking and adtech bullshit…

This is basically impossible to do on a global scale. And even within a jurisdiction, there is a great risk of overregulation, see e.g. Europe. Disclaimer: I am a Linux and GrapheneOS user, running my own DNS with filtering for trackers, etc.

>This is basically impossible to do on a global scale.

Is it though? Brussels effect and USB adoption tells me it is possible to affect global outcomes even in hard things like hardware if a heavyweight decides to put their finger on the scale

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