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An informant has revealed a parliamentary probe that British authorities failed to secure classified technology allowing the militant group to identify local individuals who worked with allied troops.

Information Leak Puts Thousands in Danger

The source, identified as Person A, stated that Afghans affected by the data leak were advised to change residences and alter their mobile numbers to protect themselves from the Taliban.

Lawmakers are investigating the UK government's handling of a massive breach of private information involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who had requested to come to Britain to avoid the Taliban.

The Information Breach Occurred

A data file including private information, including names, addresses and occasionally relative details, was accidentally leaked by a staff member working at British military command in February 2022.

The incident was discovered in late 2023, when identities of multiple applicants who had requested to relocate to Britain appeared on Facebook.

Taliban Capabilities

It appears there is a false assumption that Afghan rulers are without similar capabilities that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to lawmakers.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have a contact number, they can trace your precise location. That's precisely what specialized teams did.”

Under inquiry about whether the Taliban possessed necessary encryption, the whistleblower stated: “They possess all resources.”

Consequences of the Information Leak

Early investigations submitted to the committee suggested that at least 49 family members and associates of Afghans affected by the breach had been executed.

A legal restriction regarding the incident was put in force in last year and restricted all details about it from being made public until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Because she was restricted, Person A and the aid group associated with told Afghan families they were working with that they had “concerns that mobile communications had been intercepted”.

“We recommended that they change residence if they could and altered their phone numbers. Those were the two main details that, if authorities had access to such data, would cause their location being found,” Person A explained.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower contested that internal investigation conducted by an ex-government employee had been wrong to conclude that the acquisition of the records by militant forces was “minimally impact current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that affected people are in hiding from the authorities; they are in hiding. All concerns relate to their previous employment.”

She detailed disturbing violence experienced by affected individuals, comprising electric shock torture, waterboarding, and severe beatings.

“Instances include young kids who have had bones crushed to force relatives to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.