The UK government has announced it will UK compensates Afghans affected by a major Ministry of Defence (MoD) data breach in 2021. Each of the 277 victims, including former interpreters and UK government workers, will receive up to £4,000. Many were in hiding from the Taliban when their personal details were accidentally leaked.
In September 2021, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) team was evacuating people after Western troops withdrew. Unfortunately, a mass email exposed recipients’ addresses by using the “To” field instead of “Bcc.” Consequently, Taliban forces could have identified and targeted them.
Later, an internal investigation revealed two more similar breaches. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fined the MoD £350,000, calling the mistake a “threat to life.” Despite this, Defence Minister Luke Pollard admitted they could not “undo past mistakes” but promised swift compensation.
Sean Humber, a lawyer representing some victims, criticized the compensation plan for lacking detail. He explained that his client hid in Kabul for five months, terrified the Taliban would find and kill him. Additionally, the client knew others who assisted UK forces had been beaten or executed.
Humber argued the proposed payments might not cover the trauma endured. Meanwhile, the government expects the total payout to reach £1.6 million.
Pollard emphasized improvements in data handling to prevent future errors. However, the Arap scheme, which resettled 21,316 Afghans, has now closed. Defence Secretary John Healey stated it had “fulfilled its purpose,” allowing resources to focus on national security.
Ultimately, while the UK compensates Afghans, critics question if the amount fairly addresses their suffering. The breach not only endangered lives but also damaged trust in the UK’s handling of sensitive data.
As the UK compensates Afghans, the focus now shifts to ensuring such a devastating mistake never happens again.
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