Fears grow over Taliban using biometric systems to identify US collaborators
The group has reportedly seized HIDE devices
Risk of Taliban reprisals
Military officials told The Intercept that the Taliban last week seized biometric devices known as HIDE (Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment).
These machines contain data including iris scans, fingerprints, and biographical information. They’re also used to access centralized databases.
Biometric data on Afghan citizens was reportedly widely collected and used in ID cards. Activists fear that the information will be used to identify US collaborators and attack vulnerable groups.
It would not be the first time. In 2016, insurgents behind a mass kidnapping in the Afghan city of Kunduz used a government biometric system to check if bus passengers were security force members.
The Taliban thenkilled 12 of the passengers, thenews website TOLOnews reported at the time.
Human Rights Firsthas issued guidesin English, Pashto, and Dair on how to evade the avoid recognition based on biometric data. Butthe NGO warnsthat fooling the tech is difficult and risky.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.
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