The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has launched an inquiry into a significant data breach that compromised the identities of thousands of Afghan nationals and British military personnel. This inquiry comes on the heels of a super-injunction that prevented the ISC, which oversees agencies like MI5 and MI6, from being briefed on the matter until recently. The breach, which occurred in February 2022, involved a UK Special Forces staffer who mistakenly sent sensitive information pertaining to over 30,000 resettlement applications to an unauthorized recipient. Alarmingly, the breach was only identified in August 2023 when a Facebook post in Afghanistan indicated some of the individuals’ identities.
Security Committee Investigates Afghan Data Breach Exposing Thousands
Security Committee Investigates Afghan Data Breach Exposing Thousands
A parliamentary intelligence watchdog has initiated a probe into a major data breach affecting thousands of Afghan and UK military identities.
In response to the gravity of the situation, Lord Beamish, the chairman of the ISC, stated that all pertinent intelligence documents must be provided "immediately" for assessment. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed its support for the inquiry and is committed to ensuring accountability regarding the previous government's handling of this incident. The MoD has also reacted proactively by establishing the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to assist about 7,000 affected individuals in relocating to the UK, at an estimated cost of £850 million.
Despite the looming questions and potential legal actions, the MoD has indicated that it will defend against any claims for compensation, stating that they regard these as hypothetical at this point.
As the situation develops, the ISC aims to scrutinize the intelligence community's procedures associated with the data handling to prevent future breaches and protect those at risk.
This inquiry raises serious questions about the operational accountability within the British intelligence framework, especially concerning sensitive data that can endanger lives, amid ongoing fears of reprisals from the Taliban against those identified in the leak.
Despite the looming questions and potential legal actions, the MoD has indicated that it will defend against any claims for compensation, stating that they regard these as hypothetical at this point.
As the situation develops, the ISC aims to scrutinize the intelligence community's procedures associated with the data handling to prevent future breaches and protect those at risk.
This inquiry raises serious questions about the operational accountability within the British intelligence framework, especially concerning sensitive data that can endanger lives, amid ongoing fears of reprisals from the Taliban against those identified in the leak.
