đ Share this article Afghan Rulers Used Abandoned UK Gear to Track Down Local Nationals Who Worked With Allied Troops, Investigation Hears A confidential source has told an official investigation that the UK abandoned classified technology permitting the Taliban to locate local individuals that had served with western forces. Data Breach Puts Numerous in Danger The source, known as Person A, stated that individuals impacted by the data leak were advised to move homes and switch their contact details to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities. MPs are looking into the UK government's response of a serious disclosure of personal details concerning nearly 19,000 individuals who had requested to come to Britain to avoid the Taliban. Data Disclosure Was Discovered An electronic document with private information, comprising identities, contact details and sometimes relative details, was accidentally leaked by a worker stationed at British military command in last year. The breach was discovered only in August 2023, when details of nine people who had applied to settle in the UK appeared on Facebook. Regime's Resources âThere seems to be this misconception that militant forces are without comparable resources that western nations possess,â the whistleblower testified to MPs. Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have mobile details, they can locate you down to within metres. That's precisely what intelligence groups accomplished.â Under inquiry about regarding if authorities had access to necessary encryption, the source stated: âThey possess all resources.â Aftermath of the Data Breach Initial findings presented to the investigation estimated that no fewer than forty-nine family members and co-workers of individuals impacted by the breach had been killed. A superinjunction concerning the incident was enacted in last year and restricted all details concerning it from being made public until July 2025. Protective Actions Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization she was working with told individuals at risk they were working with that they had âapprehensions that certain devices had been interceptedâ. âWe recommended that they moved when possible and altered their phone numbers. These represented the two main details that, if authorities obtained these details, would cause their location being found,â she said. Contested Findings The whistleblower disputed that internal investigation performed by a retired civil servant had been incorrect to conclude that the possession of the dataset by the regime was âminimally impact an individual's existing exposureâ. âThe thing to remember is that affected people are not standing up to the Taliban; they remain concealed. All concerns relate to past work history.â The source explained disturbing treatment experienced by at-risk Afghans, comprising electric shock torture, interrogation techniques, and violent assaults. âWe have had young kids who have had limbs fractured to try to get households to reveal locations,â the whistleblower revealed.