FILE PHOTO. An American ISAF solider from team Apache of Task Force Geronimo, 4th Platoon Delaware of the United States Army, collects biometric information from an Afghan villager in the village of Mans Kalay in Sabari, Khost district on August 4, 2012. © AFP / Jose CABEZAS
The Intercept: The Taliban Have Seized U.S. Military Biometrics Devices
Biometric collection and identification devices were seized last week during the Taliban’s offensive.
The Taliban have seized U.S. military biometrics devices that could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces, current and former military officials have told The Intercept.
The devices, known as HIIDE, for Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment, were seized last week during the Taliban’s offensive, according to a Joint Special Operations Command official and three former U.S. military personnel, all of whom worried that sensitive data they contain could be used by the Taliban. HIIDE devices contain identifying biometric data such as iris scans and fingerprints, as well as biographical information, and are used to access large centralized databases.
It’s unclear how much of the U.S. military’s biometric database on the Afghan population has been compromised.
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WNU Editor: Everyone's is in a rush to erase their digital history .... Terrified Afghans scramble to delete their digital history amid fears Taliban have seized Afghanistan's biometric database and will use it to hunt down 'enemies' (Daily Mail). More here .... Afghans hurry to delete Aadhar-like digital IDs and biometric data, worry Taliban will misuse it (India Today).
More News On The Taliban Seizing US Military Biometric Devices That Can Identify Afghans Who Assisted Coalition Efforts
Taliban reportedly seize biometrics devices used by US military -- CNET
The Taliban seized US military equipment that could identify Afghans who assisted coalition forces -- Business Insider
Afghans scramble to delete digital history, evade biometrics -- Reuters
