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A confidential source has revealed a parliamentary probe that the UK abandoned sensitive technology allowing Afghanistan's rulers to identify Afghans who worked with western forces.

Data Breach Puts Thousands in Danger

The whistleblower, known as Person A, stated that people concerned by the data leak were instructed to change residences and change their phone numbers to ensure their safety from militant forces.

MPs are investigating the Conservative government's management of a massive leak of private information involving approximately 19k Afghans who had requested to come to the United Kingdom to flee the Taliban.

Data Disclosure Was Discovered

A data file including private information, including identities, contact details and sometimes relative details, was accidentally leaked by a worker employed at special operations center in last year.

The incident came to light only in August 2023, when the names of nine people who had requested to settle in Britain were posted on social media.

Taliban Capabilities

“There seems to be this misconception that militant forces lack similar capabilities that we have,” the whistleblower testified to MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. Once they acquire a contact number, they can trace your exact position. That is what intelligence groups did.”

During testimony about regarding if authorities had access to sophisticated technology, Person A declared: “They've got everything.”

Consequences of the Data Breach

Early investigations presented to the investigation suggested that at least 49 family members and colleagues of individuals impacted by the leak had been killed.

A gag order concerning the leak was implemented in August 2023 and restricted any information about it from public disclosure until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, Person A and the aid group she collaborated with told Afghan families they were working with that they had “suspicions that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“Our suggestion was that they moved if they could and changed their contact details. Those were the primary information that, if the Taliban obtained these details, would cause identification and capture,” she said.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower disputed that government assessment carried out by a retired civil servant had been mistaken to state that the acquisition of the records by the regime was “unlikely to substantially change current risk levels”.

“The crucial point is that affected people are in hiding from the Taliban; they are in hiding. Everything boils down to their previous employment.”

Person A described terrible violence experienced by affected individuals, comprising electrocution, interrogation techniques, and physical abuse.

“There are cases of young kids who have had limbs fractured to force relatives to say where someone is,” she testified.