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A whistleblower has revealed the Afghan leak inquiry that British authorities failed to secure sensitive technology allowing the Taliban to track down Afghans who worked with international military.

Data Breach Endangers Thousands at Risk

The whistleblower, called Person A, testified that individuals impacted by the data leak were instructed to move homes and switch their mobile numbers to avoid detection from the ruling authorities.

MPs are investigating the UK government's handling of a massive breach of confidential data affecting nearly 19,000 individuals who had applied to come to Britain to escape the regime.

How the Leak Happened

A spreadsheet containing private information, comprising identities, contact details and in some cases household data, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member employed at British military command in February 2022.

The breach came to light months later, when details of multiple applicants who had applied to relocate to Britain surfaced on social media.

Militant Technology

“There seems to be a false assumption that the Taliban are without similar capabilities that allied forces use,” Person A informed the committee.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have a contact number, they are able to track your precise location. That's precisely what the unit did.”

Under inquiry about whether the Taliban had access to sophisticated technology, the whistleblower stated: “They've got everything.”

Impact of the Data Breach

Initial findings provided to the investigation indicated that approximately fifty family members and associates of people concerned by the incident had been killed.

A gag order about the leak was implemented in late 2023 and blocked relevant facts regarding the matter from media reporting until recently.

Safety Measures

Given injunction limitations, Person A and the aid group associated with told individuals at risk they were working with that they had “suspicions that certain devices had been breached”.

“Our suggestion was that they moved where feasible and altered their mobile numbers. Those were the crucial data that, if the Taliban had access to such data, would result in them being traced,” she said.

Contested Findings

The source disputed that internal investigation carried out by an ex-government employee had been mistaken to conclude that the possession of the information by the regime was “not significantly alter an individual's existing exposure”.

“The important fact is that affected people are not standing up to the Taliban; they are in hiding. All concerns relate to past work history.”

Person A described disturbing abuse experienced by affected individuals, comprising electrocution, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“There are cases of toddlers who have had limbs fractured to force the family to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.