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A significant data breach has compromised the identities of over 100 British officials, including members of special forces and MI6, putting thousands of Afghans at risk of reprisals. This information, which includes detailed case notes containing secret personal data, was revealed after a High Court judge partially lifted an injunction on Thursday that had kept the latest fallout from the breach a secret. The breach also exposed the data of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had worked with the British during the 20-year war in Afghanistan and had applied to resettle in the UK.
Many of the affected individuals were deemed to be in danger of serious harm or death as the Taliban sought vengeance against those who collaborated with the British government. The breach was initially protected by a “super-injunction” to prevent any reporting on its existence. Despite previously being denied resettlement, one individual was brought to the UK after posting names from the data on Facebook, prompting concerns about further data leaks.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declined to comment on the specific actions of the individual but emphasized the rigorous security checks required for entry under any Afghan relocation schemes. The breach, discovered in 2023, led to the establishment of the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to assist those affected by the leak. This scheme has facilitated the relocation of 4,500 Afghans and their family members to the UK, with an additional 2,400 individuals expected to relocate at a cost of £850m.
Defence Secretary John Healey addressed Parliament, acknowledging the breach as a “serious departmental error,” while the shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge issued an apology on behalf of the former Conservative government. Despite the breach, the MoD has declined to disclose the number of individuals in Afghanistan who may have been harmed as a result. Concerns remain high among relatives of those named in the leak, as efforts by the Taliban to locate them have reportedly intensified following the breach
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