At least 49 family members and colleagues of Afghans affected by the Ministry of Defence's mass data breach have been killed, according to research submitted to a parliamentary committee. The study, conducted by Refugee Legal Support in partnership with academics from Lancaster and York Universities, surveyed 350 affected individuals in Afghanistan, the UK, and elsewhere.
Of the 231 respondents who received notification from the MoD that their data had been leaked, 49 reported that a colleague or family member had been killed as a result of the breach. Additionally, 200 respondents (87%) reported threats to themselves or their families, and 99 (43%) reported a direct threat to their life. A total of 121 (52%) said that family or friends in Afghanistan had been threatened by the Taliban.
Olivia Clark, executive director of Refugee Legal Support, said: 'This research lays bare the devastating human consequences of the MoD data breach. Afghans who served alongside UK forces have faced renewed threats, violent assaults, and even the killing of family members after their personal details were exposed.' She urged the UK government to act urgently to ensure their safety and accelerate relocation applications.
The data breach occurred in February 2022 when a British official mistakenly leaked details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to move to the UK after the Taliban seized power. The previous government discovered the leak in August 2023 when details were posted on Facebook. A superinjunction blocked reporting until July 2025.
An MoD spokesperson referred to a previous review, arguing 'it is highly unlikely that merely being on a spreadsheet would be grounds for an individual to be targeted'. However, a former Afghan National Army member said: 'The delay between the discovery of the data breach in 2023 and the communication in July 2025 is deeply concerning and unacceptable. This delay shows a serious lack of urgency and responsibility from the Ministry of Defence.'
The Afghanistan Response Route, a resettlement scheme set up in April 2024, has enabled 4,500 Afghans to arrive in the UK so far. The research has been submitted to the Commons defence select committee inquiry into the data breach.
