Afghan Rulers Used Left-Behind British Technology to Find Local Nationals Who Worked With Western Forces, Inquiry Is Told
A confidential source has revealed a parliamentary probe that the UK abandoned sensitive devices allowing Afghanistan's rulers to locate local individuals that had served with western forces.
Information Leak Endangers Numerous at Risk
The whistleblower, identified as Person A, stated that people concerned by the information breach were instructed to change residences and change their contact details to protect themselves from the ruling authorities.
Lawmakers are currently examining the Conservative government's management of a serious leak of confidential data affecting nearly 19,000 Afghans who had requested to relocate to the United Kingdom to avoid the regime.
How the Leak Was Discovered
A data file containing private information, such as identities, phone numbers and occasionally family information, was mistakenly released by a worker working at British military command in early 2022.
The breach became known months later, when the names of nine people who had requested to settle in Britain were posted on Facebook.
Militant Technology
It appears there is a misunderstanding that the Taliban do not have the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” Person A informed MPs.
“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have mobile details, they can locate your precise location. That is what specialized teams accomplished.”
Under inquiry about whether the Taliban possessed necessary encryption, the whistleblower declared: “They have complete capability.”
Consequences of the Data Breach
Early investigations provided to the inquiry indicated that at least 49 kin and colleagues of individuals impacted by the incident had been murdered.
A superinjunction regarding the breach was put in force in late 2023 and restricted any information about it from media reporting until July 2025.
Safety Measures
Given injunction limitations, the source and the volunteer organization she was working with informed individuals at risk they were supporting that they had “concerns that mobile communications had been compromised”.
“We advised that they relocate when possible and altered their contact details. These represented the crucial data that, if authorities obtained this information, would result in their location being found,” she said.
Contested Findings
The source argued that government assessment conducted by an ex-government employee had been wrong to conclude that the possession of the information by the Taliban was “not significantly alter an individual's existing exposure”.
“The important fact is that these individuals are in hiding from the Taliban; they live secretly. The primary issue involves past work history.”
The source explained horrific abuse suffered by concerned people, comprising electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and severe beatings.
“We have had toddlers who have had bones crushed to pressure the family to reveal locations,” Person A stated.