Afghans resettled in the UK after fleeing the Taliban have been hit by another data leak, exposing private information of almost 3,700 people.
Thousands of Afghans evacuated to Britain during the Taliban takeover thought they had found safety, but now face new risks after a Ministry of Defence (MoD) sub-contractor, Inflite The Jet Centre, was hacked. Names, passport details, and information about the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) were potentially exposed, affecting people who arrived between January and March 2024 under a programme for those who helped British troops.
The government confirmed that the breach has not threatened anyone’s safety so far, nor did it impact core government systems. However, the news is a worrying repeat for many Afghans. Just a month ago, it was revealed that another major leak in 2022 exposed details of almost 19,000 Afghans who sought to escape the Taliban.
Families received emails from Afghan resettlement officials last Friday, warning that personal data like full names, birth dates, and passport numbers might be compromised. The leak also includes details of some British military personnel and politicians.
We take data security extremely seriously and are going above and beyond our legal duties in informing all potentially affected individuals.
Inflite The Jet Centre said the incident was limited to email accounts only and has notified the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Professor Sara de Jong of Sulha Alliance, a charity that helps Afghans who worked with the British Army, called the breach “astonishing”. She urged the MoD to process remaining relocation cases faster.
A spokesperson from the government said:
The last thing that Afghans who saved British lives, need is more worries about their own and their families’ lives
The background to this story is painful. The earlier 2022 leak led to secret relocations. One Afghan man, part of the special forces who worked closely with UK troops, was deported back to Afghanistan after his details were leaked. His son pleaded:
Please help my family and avoid their murder by the Taliban
Government officials maintain that all potential arrivals are subject to strict security checks. But constant delays and repeated breaches are causing real distress. Sir Mark Lyall Grant, a former UK security adviser, called both leaks “deeply embarrassing” and said authorities need to move faster to protect people who genuinely are at risk of being victimised and persecuted by the Taliban if they go back.
Former Conservative Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng described the incidents as “really concerning”, especially for people facing possible deportation. Helen Maguire, Defence Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, called for a “fully independent investigation” into the security failures.
The government says it will keep those at risk informed and protected, but experts and support groups are calling for urgent reform and accountability. For these refugees, the wait for safety continues.
