❓WHAT HAPPENED: A major data breach involving the personal details of Afghans who applied to relocate to the United Kingdom was leaked, leading to the creation of a secret relocation scheme for around 24,000 largely unvetted migrants. Some reports indicate the numbers could swell to over 100,000 if they are allowed to bring their relatives through so-called “family reunification” chain migration.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Secretary John Healey, and Afghans affected by the breach.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The breach occurred in February 2022, with its existence kept secret via a so-called “superinjunction” gagging the press.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The superinjunction had the effect of completely shutting down the ordinary mechanisms of accountability which operate in a democracy.” – Mr Justice Chamberlain
🎯IMPACT: The secret scheme has relocated 4,500 Afghans to the United Kingdom so far, with many either poorly vetted or previously rejected for relocation. Another 17,000 Afghans affected by the breach have been invited via a separate scheme, with 14,000 already in the country or in transit.
Thousands of Afghans have been relocated to the United Kingdom under a secret government scheme following a significant data breach in February 2022, which exposed the personal details of Afghans who applied to travel to Britain. The breach occurred when a Ministry of Defence (MOD) official mistakenly e-mailed a spreadsheet containing sensitive information “outside of authorised government systems,” according to Defence Secretary John Healey.
The leaked information included names, contact details, and family information of Afghans who applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, intended to help those at risk from the Taliban after the group’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The government had the courts impose a so-called superinjunction, or “gagging order,” to prevent the press from reporting the breach or the scheme to relocate Afghans impacted by it to Britain. The order was only lifted on Tuesday by High Court Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain.
The secret relocation scheme, called the Afghan Relocation Route, has so far cost £400m and is projected to cost an additional £400m to £450m (~$536m to $603m), raising the total cost of Afghan relocations to an estimated £7 billion (~$9.4 billion) over five years. It has facilitated the relocation of 4,500 Afghans to Britain so far. Of another 17,000 Afghans impacted by the breach, 14,000 have been brought to the country or are in transit under a separate scheme.
Some reports indicate the relocated Afghans will be eligible to import their relatives through “family reunification” chain migration, swelling the influx to 100,000-150,000.
Defence Secretary Healey offered a “sincere apology” for the data breach and described it as a “serious departmental error.” Notably, many of the Afghans brought to Britain under the scheme are poorly vetted or previously had their applications rejected, with the leak of their information being the only reason they are considered eligible for relocation.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain expressed concern over the superinjunction that covered up the fiasco, stating that it created a “scrutiny vacuum” and undermined democratic accountability. He added, “The superinjunction had the effect of completely shutting down the ordinary mechanisms of accountability which operate in a democracy.” The government, under both the incumbent Labour Party and the previously governing Conservatives (Tories), had fought a two-year legal battle to try to keep the press gag in place.
The MOD has declined to confirm whether anyone has been fired or otherwise sanctioned over the scandal, with the Metropolitan Police confirming it will not ask prosecutors to bring any charges.
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