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A whistleblower has told an official investigation that British authorities left behind confidential devices enabling Afghanistan's rulers to identify Afghans that had served with allied troops.

Data Breach Puts Thousands at Risk

The source, known as Person A, testified that people concerned by the security lapse were advised to relocate and switch their phone numbers to avoid detection from the Taliban.

Members of Parliament are currently examining the Conservative government's handling of a catastrophic disclosure of personal details affecting almost nineteen thousand Afghans who had requested to move to the United Kingdom to flee the Taliban.

Data Disclosure Occurred

A data file with private information, comprising identities, addresses and in some cases household data, was accidentally leaked by a staff member employed at UK special forces headquarters in February 2022.

The leak was discovered in late 2023, when the names of nine people who had sought to settle in the UK were posted on online platforms.

Regime's Resources

It appears there is a false assumption that the Taliban do not have similar capabilities that we have,” she told MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. Should they obtain your phone number, they can trace your exact position. That is what the unit achieved.”

Under inquiry about whether the Taliban had access to necessary encryption, Person A stated: “They possess all resources.”

Aftermath of the Information Leak

Preliminary research submitted to the inquiry estimated that at least 49 family members and co-workers of Afghans affected by the leak had been killed.

A legal restriction concerning the breach was implemented in late 2023 and blocked any information regarding the matter from being made public until July 2025.

Safety Measures

Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization associated with told Afghan families they were assisting that they had “suspicions that certain devices had been compromised”.

“We recommended that they change residence when possible and changed their phone numbers. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces obtained these details, would lead to them being traced,” the source testified.

Disputed Conclusions

The source disputed that internal investigation conducted by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to determine that the obtaining of the records by the regime was “not significantly alter current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that these Afghans are not standing up to the Taliban; they live secretly. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

She detailed horrific violence suffered by at-risk Afghans, including electrocution, simulated drowning, and violent assaults.

“Instances include toddlers who have had bones crushed to try to get relatives to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.