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A whistleblower has told an official investigation that British authorities failed to secure sensitive equipment enabling Afghanistan's rulers to identify local individuals that had served with western forces.

Data Breach Puts Thousands in Danger

Person A, known as Person A, testified that Afghans affected by the data leak were told to change residences and change their phone numbers to ensure their safety from militant forces.

Lawmakers are looking into the UK government's response of a serious disclosure of confidential data involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who had requested to relocate to Britain to flee militant rule.

How the Leak Occurred

A data file including private information, comprising names, phone numbers and occasionally relative details, was accidentally leaked by an official employed at UK special forces headquarters in early 2022.

The breach became known months later, when identities of nine people who had applied to relocate to the UK were posted on social media.

Regime's Resources

It appears there is this misconception that militant forces are without the same sort of facilities that allied forces use,” Person A informed lawmakers.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have mobile details, they are able to track you down to within metres. That is what intelligence groups achieved.”

Under inquiry about whether the Taliban possessed advanced decryption, Person A confirmed: “They have complete capability.”

Aftermath of the Data Breach

Early investigations presented to the inquiry estimated that at least 49 kin and colleagues of individuals impacted by the breach had been murdered.

A superinjunction regarding the leak was enacted in last year and restricted any information regarding the matter from being made public until July 2025.

Security Recommendations

Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with informed Afghan families they were assisting that they had “concerns that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate where feasible and changed their mobile numbers. That constituted the crucial data that, if the Taliban had access to this information, would lead to them being traced,” Person A explained.

Challenged Assessments

The source argued that internal investigation conducted by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to conclude that the possession of the records by the Taliban was “minimally impact an individual's existing exposure”.

“The crucial point is that these individuals are not standing up to militant forces; they remain concealed. Everything boils down to past work history.”

Person A described disturbing abuse suffered by at-risk Afghans, involving electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

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