The UK government has launched a secret Afghan relocation program following a major data leak that compromised the personal details of close to 19,000 individuals. In February 2022, a British Defense official mistakenly released a dataset containing sensitive information amid the chaotic aftermath of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
The breach only came to light in August 2023, when parts of the data were anonymously shared on Facebook, triggering a swift governmental response. As a result, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) instituted a confidential resettlement scheme that has successfully brought 4,500 Afghans to the UK, with another 600 individuals and their families awaiting relocation.
The initiative, which began in April 2024, is estimated to have cost £400 million thus far, with future expenditures projected to reach an additional £400 million to £450 million. Although the program was originally kept under wraps due to an injunction, details are now emerging following a High Court ruling that lifted the superinjunction, citing significant free speech concerns.
Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged that the injunction had prevented even him from discussing the breach, labeling it a "serious departmental error." The data leak resulted from a spreadsheet being emailed outside authorized government channels, and while details of the number of arrests or fatalities resulting from the breach remain undisclosed, the MoD admitted the incident reflects ongoing vulnerabilities in data management related to the Afghanistan evacuation efforts.
As the fallout continues, scrutiny over the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap)—launched amidst the U.S. troop withdrawal in August 2021—has intensified, with a 2022 inquiry deeming it a "disaster" and "betrayal." The judge highlighted that the superinjunction created a "scrutiny vacuum," obstructing necessary democratic oversight.
This evolving story is set to be updated with new information as it becomes available. Keep an eye on our page for the latest developments.
The breach only came to light in August 2023, when parts of the data were anonymously shared on Facebook, triggering a swift governmental response. As a result, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) instituted a confidential resettlement scheme that has successfully brought 4,500 Afghans to the UK, with another 600 individuals and their families awaiting relocation.
The initiative, which began in April 2024, is estimated to have cost £400 million thus far, with future expenditures projected to reach an additional £400 million to £450 million. Although the program was originally kept under wraps due to an injunction, details are now emerging following a High Court ruling that lifted the superinjunction, citing significant free speech concerns.
Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged that the injunction had prevented even him from discussing the breach, labeling it a "serious departmental error." The data leak resulted from a spreadsheet being emailed outside authorized government channels, and while details of the number of arrests or fatalities resulting from the breach remain undisclosed, the MoD admitted the incident reflects ongoing vulnerabilities in data management related to the Afghanistan evacuation efforts.
As the fallout continues, scrutiny over the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap)—launched amidst the U.S. troop withdrawal in August 2021—has intensified, with a 2022 inquiry deeming it a "disaster" and "betrayal." The judge highlighted that the superinjunction created a "scrutiny vacuum," obstructing necessary democratic oversight.
This evolving story is set to be updated with new information as it becomes available. Keep an eye on our page for the latest developments.
