MoD data breach a 'foreseeable' failure that left Afghans in danger, inquiry finds

Key Points:

• A parliamentary inquiry found the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) data breach exposing personal details of over 18,500 Afghan relocation applicants was a "foreseeable systemic failure" caused by inadequate tools, training, and data protection culture.
• The breach involved a MoD staff member sharing an Excel spreadsheet containing sensitive data with a third party, originating from UK Special Forces headquarters, and was concealed by a super-injunction lasting nearly two years.
• The Defence Committee criticized the MoD for lacking expertise in running the Afghan relocation scheme, describing its use of Excel as a "continuing cultural failure" and the overall scheme as "utterly and obviously inadequate."
• The report condemned excessive secrecy, including withholding information from parliamentarians, and questioned the government's policy of not commenting on special forces matters, which hindered accountability and public understanding.
• The committee highlighted concerns over UK Special Forces' role in rejecting many Afghan special forces applicants, with 884 rejections later overturned, emphasizing the government's ongoing responsibility to those still at risk after the scheme's closure in 2025.