More than 100 British officials, including members of special forces and MI6, had their identities compromised in a data breach that endangered thousands of Afghans who assisted UK forces during the 20-year war. The breach, involving detailed personal data of these officials, was discovered in August 2023 but dates back to February 2022. The British government acknowledged that data on approximately 19,000 Afghans applying for resettlement in the UK was inadvertently leaked. Many of these individuals are at risk of serious harm or death due to Taliban reprisals.
The breach was compounded by an ultra-graded injunction designed to keep the violation under wraps. It was revealed that the leak occurred when a worker at the UK Special Forces Headquarters mistakenly emailed over 30,000 resettlement applications, which included data on 150 individuals. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) stated that anyone entering the UK under the Afghan relocation scheme must pass security checks.
In response to the leak, the UK government initiated Afghanistan’s counter-route (ARR) scheme, allowing for the resettlement of 4,500 Afghans and their families, with an expected total of 2,400 more. Defense Secretary John Healy labeled the breach as a “serious departmental error,” acknowledging it as part of ongoing data loss issues related to the Afghan scheme.
Despite government claims that no Afghans were being monitored due to the leak, those affected expressed ongoing fear for their families still in the country. The MOD emphasized its commitment to safeguarding personnel in sensitive roles. Following legal settlements, more information has begun to emerge in the media about the incident.
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