Thousands of Afghans whose personal information was leaked in a major data breach but were not evacuated to the UK are unlikely to receive any compensation. According to a government spokesperson, the Ministry of Defence will “robustly defend against any legal action or compensation,” calling these “hypothetical claims.
The data breach, which took place in February 2022, exposed the names and personal details of over 19,000 individuals who had applied to relocate to the UK. Many of them now fear retaliation from the Taliban. Despite the serious concerns raised, the government does not plan to offer proactive compensation to those impacted, as reported by a leading publication.
An independent investigation known as the Rimmer review, commissioned by Defence Secretary John Healey, stated, “It is highly unlikely that merely being on the spreadsheet would be grounds for an individual to be targeted.” Based on the findings of this review, the government also lifted a super-injunction this week that had previously banned any mention of the data breach or the court order that accompanied it
The review also concluded that “there is little evidence of intent by the Taliban to conduct a campaign of retribution against former officials.”
Barings Law, a legal firm, is currently preparing what could become the largest lawsuit on the matter, representing more than 1,000 Afghan clients. However, it remains unclear how many of these individuals are still in Afghanistan
The breach occurred when a government official mistakenly sent a spreadsheet to someone outside the authorised relocation team. This document eventually ended up on social media, with the first signs of the leak appearing on Facebook in August 2023.
One of the affected individuals, Ahmed, who previously worked for the British military, said his family members still in Afghanistan were named in the leak. “The first thing we need from the government, and [are] expecting – they should swiftly take action and bring our families to Britain or to a third country where they feel safe,” he said. He added that his family is “moving home to home” to avoid being identified.
Over 100 British officials were also exposed in the breach. Since the withdrawal of international troops, more than 36,000 Afghans have been relocated to the UK. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that over 16,000 people were directly at risk due to the leak. So far, the government has spent £400 million on Afghan relocation efforts, with total costs projected to reach £6 billion.
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