Thousands of Afghans, UK troops, and civil servants affected by new data breach

A recent data breach has exposed the personal information of approximately 3,700 individuals, including Afghan nationals resettled in the UK, British troops, civil servants, and journalists. The incident occurred when Inflite The Jet Centre Ltd, a company providing ground handling services for flights under a contract involving the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Cabinet Office, suffered unauthorized access to a limited number of company emails.

Among those affected are Afghans who were relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), a program designed to assist individuals who supported British forces as translators, fixers, and in other capacities. The breach also impacted British troops traveling to routine military exercises and journalists accompanying government ministers on official engagements.

This incident follows a previous data leak in February 2022, when an official released the details of 18,714 individuals “in error,” exposing sensitive information of Afghans who had worked alongside British forces before the Taliban’s return to power. The earlier breach led to significant concerns about the security of sensitive data involving vulnerable populations and defense personnel.

In response to the latest breach, the UK government has initiated measures to inform all potentially affected individuals and is cooperating with relevant cyber authorities to investigate the incident. A government spokesperson emphasized the seriousness with which data security is taken and the commitment to informing those impacted.

The breach has raised ongoing concerns about the security of sensitive data involving vulnerable populations and defense personnel. The UK government has faced criticism for its handling of these incidents, with calls for improved data protection measures and greater transparency in managing such sensitive information.

The incident underscores the critical importance of robust data security protocols, especially when handling personal information of individuals who have supported military operations and are at risk of retaliation. The UK government has pledged to review and strengthen its data protection measures to prevent future breaches and ensure the safety of those who have assisted British forces.