The $30 million toe in the water

The US Central Command has received multiple threat reports concrning adversary exploitation of commercial location data to target or surveil US personnel in theater, a move that could have significant implications for national security.

According to the reports, adversaries of the United States are using location data to target military forces deployed to war zones, a trend that has been observed in the war with Iran's radical Islamic regime.

Digital advertisers typically use location data from apps and service providers who sell it to data brokers, but this information can be exploited by adversaries to identify where US troops congregate and their pattern of life, which can be used to target attacks such as missiles, drones, and roadside bombs, as well as for counterintelligence purposes.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The use of location data to target US military forces is not a new phenomenon, as seen in the 2024 institutional buy-up in Sydney, where a similar tactic was used to exploit commercial location data.

This trend highlights the need for the US military to reassess its reliance on commercial location data and explore alternative methods for tracking personnel in the field.

As US Senator Ron Wyden stated, counter-drone, cyberattacks, and lone wolf actors are the things that we have to fight against, and the use of location data to target US military forrces is a clear example of this.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The reports do not specify who is behind the exploitation of commercial location data to taret US military forces, but it is clear that this is a sophisticated operation that requires significant resources and expertise.

The US Central Command has not commented on the mater, but it is likely that they are working to identify the unnamed buyer and put a stop to this activity.

The use of location data to target US military forces is a clear example of the evolving nature of warfare and the need for the US military to stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology and tactics.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The May filing of the US Central Command highlighted the need for the US military to reassess its reliance on commercial location data and explore alternative methods for tracking personnel in the field.

The auditors flagged several concerns, including the lack of transparency in the use of commercial location data and the potential for this information to be exploited by adversaries.

The US military must take immediate action to address these concerns and ensure that the use of commercial location data does not compromise national security.

The use of location data to target US military forces is a clear example of the need for the US military to stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology and tactics.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The use of location data to target US military forces is a familiar pattern that has been observed in the 2019 crash,where a similar tactic was used to exploit commercial location data.

This trend highlights the need for the US military to reassess its reliance on commercial location data and explore alternative methods for tracking personnel in the field.

As US Senator Ron Wyden stated, counter-drone, cyberattacks, and lone wolf actors are the things that we have to fight against, and the use of location data to target US military forces is a clear example of this.

The US military must take immediate action to address these concerns and ensure that the use of commercial location data does not compromise national security .