In a pivotal response to a severe data leak, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has commenced an inquiry that has raised serious concerns about national security. The breach has compromised the personal information of thousands of Afghans who supported British forces, as well as military officials, following a mishap at the UK Special Forces headquarters in London.
Chairman Lord Beamish emphasized the urgency for all related intelligence documents to be submitted for review without delay. The incident, which surfaced after a super-injunction delayed the ISC's access to information until last week, has been met with strong approval from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which acknowledges the need for thorough oversight of such a critical matter.
In a statement released on Monday, Lord Beamish outlined the committee's intent to analyze the intelligence community's complicity, particularly after being briefed on defense assessments. He has previously addressed important constitutional concerns stemming from the method used to handle the breach, highlighting that the ISC's mandate permits scrutiny over confidential materials.
The MoD has been directed by the Defence Secretary to fully collaborate with the ISC and related parliamentary bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability. In light of the extensive data leak, which was first noticed in August 2023, the MoD acknowledges the obligation to understand the failures that led to this incident.
The breach originated back in February 2022 and involved the distribution of a spreadsheet containing over 30,000 resettlement applications sent inadvertently to a private individual. This alarming situation escalated when an Afghan individual on social media implied a threat to publish additional names, essentially prompting blackmail.
In a preventive action, the MoD sought a gagging order in September 2023, aware of the risks faced by nearly 19,000 Afghans affiliated with British operations. A restrictive super-injunction was later instituted by the High Court that similarly prohibited reporting on even the existence of this order until recently.
As the data breach became public, the UK government clandestinely initiated the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), which aims to evacuate approximately 7,000 individuals affected by the breach, with anticipated costs soaring to about £850 million. Furthermore, while the MoD vows to defend against potential legal actions related to the data leak, reports suggest that no proactive compensation plans will be established for those affected.
