MPs Launch Investigation Into Catastrophic Afghan Data Leak
Members of Parliament have launched a formal investigation into the Conservative government's handling of a devastating security breach that exposed the personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to come to the UK fleeing Taliban persecution. The inquiry follows shocking revelations about how the Taliban acquired sensitive UK equipment left behind during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which they're now using to track down those who worked with western forces.
Whistleblower Reveals Chilling Details
A whistleblower, identified only as Person A, has told the defence select committee that Afghans affected by the data breach were urgently advised to move homes and change their phone numbers to protect themselves from Taliban retaliation. The spreadsheet containing their personal data, including names, contact details and family information, was accidentally leaked by an official working at UK special forces headquarters in February 2022, though the breach only came to light in August 2023.
Person A, an independent volunteer caseworker, explained the grave reality to MPs during a private hearing on 18 November. "There seems to be this misconception that the Taliban do not have the same sort of facilities that we have," she stated. "We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have your phone number, they can trace you down to within metres."
Abandoned Equipment Used Against Allies
When questioned by Conservative MP Jesse Norman about whether the Taliban possessed sophisticated encryption and de-encryption technologies, Person A responded unequivocally: "They've got everything." She confirmed that sensitive material and kit left behind by UK forces is now being used against those who assisted western operations.
The consequences have been deadly. Preliminary research submitted to the inquiry estimates that at least 49 family members and colleagues of Afghans affected by the leak have been killed since the data breach occurred. Person A described horrific methods used by the Taliban, including electrocution, waterboarding, and whipping with electrical cables, noting that even four-year-old children have had their arms broken to force families to reveal locations of applicants.
The government responded to the crisis by obtaining a superinjunction in August 2023 that prevents any information about the leak from being made public until July 2025. Person A revealed she was served with this injunction during a Teams call with government officials without being offered any legal advice, severely restricting her ability to warn those at risk.
