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British soldier ignored order to pull his SIM card, then got blackmailed
Ars Technica • • world
Key Points:
- British soldier Daniel Barton-Kennedy disobeyed orders to remove his cellphone SIM card before deployment to Estonia near the Russian border, leading to his phone being hacked and nude photos stolen for blackmail.
- Barton-Kennedy initially paid part of the ransom but reported the blackmail only after the demand increased, resulting in a court-martial where he pled guilty, was demoted, and sentenced to 10 months in detention.
- The soldier cited personal reasons for keeping his phone active, including contacting his daughter on her birthday and his pregnant partner, but acknowledged understanding the orders and expressed deep regret.
- Barton-Kennedy’s appeal against the sentence was denied, and the British Army emphasized that security breaches compromising operational safety are met with strict disciplinary actions.
