Breach Exposes Identities of UK Special Forces in Afghanistan Data Leak

More than 100 British officials' identities, including members of MI6 and special forces, were compromised in a recent data breach, endangering the lives of thousands of Afghans who aided UK forces during the Afghanistan conflict.

The identities of over 100 British officials, including members of the special forces and MI6, have been jeopardized in a significant data breach, as new information reveals that thousands of Afghans are now at grave risk of retaliation. This breach came to light under a court order lifted recently, which had previously kept details confidential.

The government has confirmed that personal data of nearly 19,000 Afghans, who assisted British forces over the 20-year conflict and applied for UK resettlement, was accidentally leaked. Many of these individuals are believed to now face serious threats or even death due to Taliban retribution. This is why the original data was shielded by a "super-injunction," a legal measure preventing reporting of the incident.

The BBC reports that one individual involved had previously been denied resettlement but managed to come to the UK after sharing the leaked names on Facebook, suggesting he might unfurl further details. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has remained tight-lipped about the incident, asserting that all individuals entering the UK through Afghan relocation schemes undergo comprehensive security evaluations.

In response to the breach, the government established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), a covert resettlement initiative for those impacted, which has already successfully relocated 4,500 Afghan nationals and their families, with an additional 2,400 expected at a projected cost of £850 million. The leak stemmed from a clerical error at the UK Special Forces headquarters in London, where an employee mistakenly emailed over 30,000 resettlement applications to an unauthorized recipient while aiming to send information about just 150 cases.

After the court's recent decision to lift the super-injunction, details regarding the compromised personal information of special forces personnel were also unveiled. Defence Secretary John Healey described the breach as a "serious departmental error" and conceded that it represents just one of multiple data mishaps related to the Afghan relocation efforts. The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, has issued an apology on behalf of the former Conservative administration in power when the breach occurred.

The MoD has declined to disclose how many Afghan lives may have been endangered due to the data exposure. Although the Taliban has claimed it is not pursuing those affected, affected relatives express heightened concerns for their families still in Afghanistan, fearing the repercussions of the leak. An MoD spokesperson emphasized that protecting the security of personnel in sensitive roles is a longstanding priority, with appropriate measures in place to ensure their safety.