According to The New York Times, the data was obtained by German researchers who bought biometric devices from eBay. The data pack includes fingerprints, iris scans, photographs, names, and descriptions of the individuals. The Times reports that data mostly belongs to the US army individuals who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, the information of some local people who helped the US military may be included in this data pack. Back in 2021, the Intercept reported that the Taliban had gained access to biometric devices left at US military bases in Afghanistan. The new concern is that the Taliban, which currently rules Afghanistan, has been able to access these data and put those people at risk. The research group is now asking the US government to give asylum to foreign individuals whose data has been leaked.
Sensitive US military data leaked through biometric devices sold on eBay
According to a 2011 guide to the devices, the US army used these biometric devices to identify and confirm the identity of its soldiers as well as local people who visited American military bases in targeted countries. “It was disturbing that [the US military] didn’t even try to protect the data,” German research team leader Matthias Marx told the Times. “They didn’t care about the risk, or they ignored the risk.” The seller also said that he didn’t know these devices contained sensitive military data. As per the Times report, one of the memory cards contained names, nationalities, photographs, fingerprints, and iris scans of 2,632 people. Additionally, the data shows this biometric device was used in the summer of 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Fingerprints and iris scans of a small group of US military personnel who served in Jordan in 2013 are also found on another device. In response to the news, Defense Department press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder told the Times, “Because we have not reviewed the information contained on the devices, the department is not able to confirm the authenticity of the alleged data or otherwise comment on it.” The Defense Department is also seeking to return those devices for further analysis.
