Army lays out policy to search deceased soldiers’ phones for classified info
The policy was issued to “keep up with the pace” of evolving technology and the “understanding that these devices have capability to transfer sensitive information.”
Patty Nieberg
Jul 9, 2025 10:56 AM EDT
The Army can screen the personal electronic devices of deceased soldiers to check for information that is either deemed classified or controlled in nature, according to a new policy.
The screening will be done by the Joint Personal Effects Depot, which manages the personal items of troops who die overseas. An Army policy memo sent to the force this month sets up a process for future conflicts where the service can retain soldiers’ personal cell phones and computers to screen for classified information, Controlled Unclassified Information, operational security, or personally identifying information left on the device.
Classified information is broken into multiple tiers, including Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential, based on the impacts that it could have on national security. Controlled Unclassified Information is a separate designation used to describe government-owned or created information that is sensitive in nature and considered protected.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-policy-screen-personal-devices/
