The Taliban are showing us the dangers of personal data falling into the wrong hands

Digital ID systems are a powerful development tool, providing a legal identity to millions, but their misuse can be deadly

The Taliban have openly talked about using US-made digital identity technology to hunt down Afghans who have worked with the international coalition - posing a huge threat to everyone recorded in the system. In addition, the extremists now also have access to - and control over - the digital identification systems and technologies built through international aid support.

These include the e-Tazkira, a biometric identity card used by Afghanistan's National Statistics and Information Authority, which includes fingerprints, iris scans and a photograph, as well as voter registration databases. It also includes the Afghan personnel and pay system, used by the interior and defence ministries to pay the army and police.