Spies, SAS troops among UK nationals affected by Afghan data leak, BBC says
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British Defence Secretary John Healey apologised on July 15 for the 2022 data leak, which had been subject to a court-imposed “superinjunction” - banning media coverage - until July 15, 2025..
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- UK's Ministry of Defence leaked data of over 100 British nationals, including spies and special forces, in early 2022.
- The leak, found on Facebook a year later, also included information on British officials aiding Afghan relocation to the UK.
- Defence Secretary apologised; a secret £2 billion relocation program was launched, previously under a "superinjunction".
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LONDON - Details of more than 100 British nationals including spies and special forces soldiers were included in one of the country’s worst ever data breaches that led to thousands of Afghans being relocated to the UK, British media reported on July 17.
The leak by the Ministry of Defence in early 2022, which surfaced on Facebook a year later, prompted the relocation of more than 16,000 Afghans to Britain
The personal information of more than 100 British officials, including spies from the foreign intelligence agency MI6 and special forces such as the SAS (Special Air Service), was included in the data leak, according to BBC News and other outlets.
The Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
On July 15, Defence Secretary John Healey issued an apology, acknowledging that the leak also included information about lawmakers and senior military figures who supported Afghan allies seeking refuge in the UK.
The breach led the former Conservative government to launch a secret relocation programme, estimated to cost around £2 billion (S$3.4 billion) to protect those affected.
A court-imposed “superinjunction” which banned media coverage of the leak or the relocation programme and even that there was such a veto in place, was lifted on July 15. REUTERS
