UK data leak during Afghan evacuation: Spies, MPs identified in breach; two-year media gag lifted

More than 100 British officials, including MI6 spies, SAS soldiers, MPs and government ministers, were among those exposed in a major data breach linked to Afghan evacuation efforts , The Independent has reported.

The breach occurred in February 2022, when a ministry of defence (MoD) official mistakenly shared sensitive information. It included the personal details of thousands of Afghans who had applied to relocate to the UK, fearing Taliban reprisal due to their ties with British forces.

The gravity of the incident led to an unprecedented two-year superinjunction, banning media coverage of the breach. But new court disclosures lifting the ban on media now reveal that British intelligence and special forces personnel were also caught in the leak.

The Intelligence and security committee, a powerful parliamentary body, has criticised the secrecy. Its chair, Lord Beamish, said there was “no justification” for withholding intelligence assessments used to justify the gag order and demanded they be handed over immediately.

Former armed forces minister James Heappey, who was in office at the time, called the discovery “gut-wrenching”. He added that while the MoD official responsible was well-intentioned, the error had severe consequences. He also questioned the credibility of advice he received regarding former Afghan special forces – known as the Triples – who were denied UK entry despite fighting alongside British troops.