UK launched secret scheme to relocate Afghans after data leak, documents show
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UK Reveals Secret £850M Afghan Relocation After Data Breach
Above: Accommodation built by the United States Air Force for evacuees from Afghanistan on Sept. 20, 2021 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. Image copyright: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
This data breach represents a catastrophic government failure that endangered thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives supporting British forces. The Ministry of Defence's careless handling of sensitive information put multiple lives at risk and damaged Britain's reputation for protecting those who served alongside U.K. troops. The unprecedented use of a "superinjunction" to hide this massive security failure from Parliament and taxpayers is an unconscionable assault on democratic accountability.
Pro-government narrative
The decision to seek a superinjunction was necessary to prevent further endangering Afghan lives by alerting the Taliban to the existence of leaked data. Ministers prioritized protecting vulnerable individuals from potential torture and murder over transparency, making the difficult choice to shield Parliament from information that could have increased risks to those already imperiled by the breach.