A significant security breach at the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has exposed sensitive details of Afghan nationals evacuated to Britain, raising serious concerns about data protection and government transparency.
The incident, which occurred earlier this year, saw personal information of evacuees mistakenly shared via email with unauthorised recipients. The breach affected individuals who had worked with British forces in Afghanistan and were relocated during the 2021 evacuation operation.
Superinjunction Attempt Fails
In a controversial move, the MoD sought to keep the breach secret by obtaining a superinjunction - an extreme legal measure that prevents media reporting on a case. However, details have now emerged despite these efforts.
Security experts warn the lapse could endanger lives, as many evacuees remain at risk from Taliban reprisals. The exposed data reportedly included names, contact details and other identifying information.
Government Under Fire
The revelation has sparked criticism from opposition politicians and human rights organisations. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey called it "a shocking failure of duty" that "put vulnerable people at risk".
An MoD spokesperson acknowledged the breach but claimed immediate action was taken to mitigate risks. They stated: "We have apologised to those affected and are supporting them while reviewing our processes to prevent recurrence."
The Information Commissioner's Office has launched an investigation into the incident, which could result in significant fines if negligence is proven.
