Pentagon has restricted use of GPS technology and fitness apps for deployed troops.

Data from the Strava fitness app showing US troop in Afghanistan. NPR/Strava. 

The Pentagon has restricted use of mobile apps using GPS for troops deployed overseas. NPR. The GPS technology has put soldiers at risk after data from fitness and other apps can be seen by the public. These apps have been banned for troops deployed overseas with local commanders allowed to make exceptions. The Pentagon has also encouraged local commanders to also ban the apps. The move comes after Strava, a fitness app, published 1 billion paths of runners and joggers that included US soldiers at sensitive locations. 

My Comment:

A sad but necessary move. It was very clear that these kinds of heat maps could show where US troops were in sensitive locations. Since these apps are not popular with locals, many of whom don't even have smartphones, it was pretty clear that these heat-maps were from American soldiers or other westerners. 

This obviously could be used for terrorists to pick targets. And those targets would be extremely vulnerable as they would be jogging and not armed. The idea is that you could monitor these apps and look for potential routes people are running and then wait in ambush. Those soldiers would be  easy targets and would be primary targets for gun or ramming attacks. 

I do have to wonder about the wisdom of allowing smartphones overseas in the first place. This is not the only security risk from phones. My company bans cell phones on the production line for corporate espionage reasons so you would think that would happen to soldiers overseas. 

All that being said I think this could cause a morale or fitness problems for these troops. Having smartphone apps is one of the few simple pleasures allowed for troops overseas. And many of them use GPS for various reasons. Not having access to that is going to upset some people. 

Fitness might suffer as well. These fitness apps help keep US troops in shape by telling them how much they have exercised. Sure pedometers are a thing, but those might not be widely available. Without tracking soldiers will have to either use mile markers or just go by gut feeling, neither of which will be as easy and efficient as an app...