The UK’s Intelligence and Security Committee has initiated a formal inquiry into a data breach that exposed identities of Afghans and British military personnel. The incident has sparked concerns over accountability and security implications for those involved.
Inquiry Launched into Major Afghan Data Breach Involving Military Details
Inquiry Launched into Major Afghan Data Breach Involving Military Details
The Intelligence and Security Committee is undertaking an investigation into a significant data leak that endangers thousands of Afghans.
Parliament's intelligence watchdog has initiated an inquiry into a major data leak that put at risk the identities of thousands of Afghans who collaborated with British military personnel. The leak has led to a super-injunction, preventing the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) from receiving information until recently.
The committee, guided by chairman Lord Beamish, is calling for immediate access to all intelligence documents related to the breach. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) expressed strong support for the committee's investigation into how the leak occurred. The ISC plays a key role in overseeing the activities of MI5, MI6, and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
In a statement, Lord Beamish highlighted the serious constitutional concerns surrounding the long-unaddressed breach, which remained undiscovered for over a year before escalating into a legal issue. The ISC asserts that, under the Justice and Security Act 2013, sensitive information cannot be withheld from its scrutiny.
The data breach occurred in February 2022 when an employee at UK Special Forces headquarters mistakenly emailed a document containing more than 30,000 resettlement applications to an unauthorized recipient, believing he was sending information on 150 individuals. It was only in August 2023 that the breach came to light when an Afghan individual threatened to release further identities based on a Facebook post, a situation described by government insiders as "essentially blackmail."
In response to the threat and potential repercussions from the Taliban for nearly 19,000 Afghans disclosed in the leaked data, the MoD sought a gagging order in September 2023. The High Court imposed a super-injunction that restricted all details surrounding the order, which was only lifted last week.
The unfortunate incident prompted the establishment of the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to resettle around 7,000 affected individuals in the UK, with an anticipated total cost of approximately £850 million. The MoD stated that it will vigorously contest any legal claims arising from the situation, labeling them as "hypothetical."
Reports indicate that the MoD is unlikely to voluntarily offer compensation to those impacted by the data breach, raising further concerns about accountability and support for those whose lives may now be in jeopardy.
