Ministry of Defence Breach Exposes Spies, Afghan Allies

A major UK Ministry of Defence data breach in early 2022 exposed the identities of over 100 British nationals—including MI6 officers, SAS special forces, MPs, and senior officials—and nearly 19,000 Afghans seeking UK resettlement after aiding Western forces. The government only became aware of the breach 18 months later when the data surfaced on Facebook, triggering urgent relocation efforts for over 16,000 Afghans due to Taliban reprisal fears. The incident was initially suppressed by a sweeping superinjunction that concealed even its existence, drawing criticism from parliamentary oversight bodies for excessive secrecy. Defence Secretary John Healey has apologized for the leak, which led to a secret relocation programme estimated to cost £2 billion. Former officials and MPs have condemned the error and questioned the Ministry's handling of intelligence and support for Afghan allies. The lifting of the media ban has intensified scrutiny of the government's transparency and security protocols.