The identities of over 100 British officials, including members of the special forces (SAS) and intelligence agency MI6, were compromised in a data breach affecting thousands of Afghans. The breach occurred in February 2022 but was not discovered until August 2023.
The UK government had previously admitted that nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants who worked with British forces during the 20-year war and sought resettlement in the UK had their personal data leaked. Many were at risk of serious harm or death due to Taliban retaliation.
To protect sensitive information, a “super-injunction” was issued, but it was lifted on Thursday, allowing media outlets to report on the breach. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) offered to expedite a review for an individual who posted part of the leaked data on Facebook and brought him to the UK as part of an alleged blackmail scheme.
The MoD declined to comment on the individual’s actions but stated that all Afghan relocation scheme applicants must undergo robust security checks. The discovery of the breach led to the creation of the Afghanistan Response Route, a resettlement program for those affected, which has allowed 4,500 Afghans and family members to move to the UK.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the breach as a “serious departmental error.” The MoD has refused to disclose how many people in Afghanistan may have been harmed due to the data breach. Relatives of those named in the leak fear for their families’ safety, with one stating that Taliban efforts intensified following the leak.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4ek9njknvo