The identities of more than 100 British officials, including special forces and MI6 agents, were exposed in a 2022 Ministry of Defence (MOD) data breach linked to Afghan resettlement efforts, U.K. media including The Independent reported on Thursday.
The breach occurred when an MOD official mistakenly leaked the personal data of nearly 19,000 Afghans seeking refuge due to their ties with British forces.
In response, the government obtained a super injunction to block reporting on the breach and initiated a secret resettlement program that has relocated over 4,500 Afghans amid fears of Taliban retaliation. The actions became public only this week after the High Court lifted the order.
The Independent reported that in addition to data on Afghan applicants, the breach also exposed the names of over 100 British special forces personnel, including MI6 operatives and senior military officers.
The latest revelations follow Defence Secretary John Healey’s statement to the members of the Parliament on Tuesday, in which he said that “in a small number of cases, the names of members of parliament, senior military officers and government officials were noted as supporting the application.”
Healey said the breach was a “serious departmental error” and admitted it was “just one of many data losses” linked to the Afghan relocation schemes.
Meanwhile, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge issued an apology on behalf of the former Conservative government, which was in office when the leak was uncovered.
The MOD has declined to say whether any disciplinary action was taken against the official responsible for the breach. The Metropolitan Police concluded that no criminal investigation was required.
