Google has temporarily halted the accounts previously used by officials of the former Afghan government, according to reports from Reuters citing unnamed sources. The number of accounts locked down by Google is unknown.

The news comes as concerns grow around data and information being left behind by the former government and allies, which will now be up for grabs for the Taliban.

Google, in a statement on Friday, said that they are “taking temporary actions to secure relevant accounts” but slipped past confirming that the accounts were being locked down, according to reports from Reuters.

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An individual associated with the former Afghan government, which was taken over by the Taliban last month, said that the militant organisation is seeking information in the emails of the government, Reuters reported.

The same employee said that the Taliban had ordered him to secure the data of a certain ministry of the former government. The unnamed employee, who worked in the same ministry, told Reuters that he went into hiding and did not comply with the orders.

“If I do so, then they will get access to the data and official communications of the previous ministry leadership”, the unnamed employee said, according to reports from Reuters.

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The news comes hours before the Taliban is expected to announce its new government on Saturday.

Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar will lead a new Afghan government and it could be announced soon, reported Reuters quoting sources in the Islamist group. The Taliban is battling rebel fighters while striving to ward off economic collapse.  

A Taliban official told Reuters, on condition of anonymity, that all the top leaders are in Kabul and preparations are in final stages to announce the new government.