UK Secretly Relocated Thousands of Afghans After Major Data Breach

The British government covertly relocated thousands of Afghans to the United Kingdom after a Ministry of Defence data breach in early 2022 exposed their personal information, raising fears they could be targeted by the Taliban. The breach, described as one of the most serious security incidents in recent British history, led to the creation of a secret relocation scheme estimated to cost around 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion).

A court lifted a superinjunction on Tuesday that had previously prevented media coverage of the breach and the subsequent relocation program. British defense minister John Healey apologized to those affected, telling Parliament, > "This serious data incident should never have happened... to all whose data was compromised I offer a sincere apology."

The data leak involved a spreadsheet containing details of Afghans who had worked with the British government and applied for relocation, which was mistakenly emailed outside government systems. The information was later published on Facebook, further increasing the risk to those identified.

According to Healey, about 4,500 Afghans and their family members have been relocated or are en route to the UK under the previously undisclosed scheme. However, he stated that no further asylum would be offered specifically due to the breach, citing a government review that found little evidence of Taliban intent to seek retribution against former officials. The review also noted that more than 16,000 people affected by the breach had been relocated to the UK by May this year, some through existing programs.

The government faces lawsuits from those impacted by the breach, with legal representatives arguing that affected individuals may have strong claims for compensation due to the distress caused. The incident comes amid heightened political debate over immigration and public spending in the UK.