UK Reveals Secret Afghan Resettlement Scheme After Data Breach

Following a significant data breach in early 2022 that exposed the personal information of approximately 18,700 to 25,000 Afghans connected to the UK government, the British government secretly established a multibillion-pound relocation scheme to protect those at risk from Taliban reprisals. The leak, which was only discovered in August 2023 after parts of the data appeared on Facebook, compromised the identities of applicants and their families, potentially endangering about 100,000 people. Initially kept under wraps by a super-injunction to prevent Taliban access to the information, the secrecy around the scheme was lifted in May 2024 amid concerns over lack of public scrutiny and the safety of individuals not yet resettled. The scheme, started under the Conservative government and continued by the Labour administration, aimed to relocate around 20,200 to 25,000 Afghans at a cost estimated up to £7 billion, extending the resettlement efforts for several more years despite pressures on the UK’s immigration system. Parliamentary disclosure revealed that the program was initiated after the data leak became known and was accompanied by unprecedented legal measures to suppress information about the breach and the resettlement efforts. The lifting of the injunction has allowed greater transparency, enabling public and parliamentary oversight of the secret relocation program that had been concealed to prevent further harm to those affected.