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A whistleblower has told an official investigation that British authorities abandoned sensitive devices allowing the Taliban to track down local individuals that had served with allied troops.

Information Leak Puts Numerous in Danger

Person A, known as Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the security lapse were advised to change residences and change their phone numbers to protect themselves from the ruling authorities.

Lawmakers are currently examining the UK government's management of a serious disclosure of private information affecting nearly 19,000 Afghans who had asked to come to the United Kingdom to avoid militant rule.

Data Disclosure Happened

A data file containing their personal data, including identities, phone numbers and occasionally family information, was mistakenly released by a staff member working at UK special forces headquarters in last year.

The incident came to light in late 2023, when the names of nine people who had requested to move to the UK surfaced on social media.

Militant Technology

It appears there is a misunderstanding that Afghan rulers lack similar capabilities that western nations possess,” she told the committee.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they have it. Once they acquire your phone number, they can trace your exact position. This is exactly how the unit did.”

When questioned about if militant forces possessed advanced decryption, Person A declared: “They've got everything.”

Consequences of the Data Breach

Preliminary research provided to the investigation estimated that at least 49 relatives and co-workers of individuals impacted by the leak had been murdered.

A legal restriction regarding the incident was put in force in last year and restricted any information about it from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization associated with advised Afghan families they were assisting that they had “apprehensions that mobile communications had been intercepted”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate when possible and switched their mobile numbers. That constituted the two main details that, if the Taliban obtained these details, would lead to their location being found,” the source testified.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower contested that internal investigation carried out by a former official had been wrong to conclude that the acquisition of the dataset by militant forces was “not significantly alter present danger”.

“The important fact is that affected people are not confronting the Taliban; they remain concealed. All concerns relate to past work history.”

The source explained terrible abuse endured by affected individuals, involving electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and severe beatings.

“We have had young kids who have had their arms broken to pressure households to reveal locations,” she testified.