Key Facts
• February 2022: Data breach exposed personal details of 19,000 Afghan applicants.
• August 2023: Former government learned of the breach after data appeared on Facebook.
• £400 million spent on Afghan resettlement program; total cost expected to reach £850 million.
• 4,500 Afghans resettled in the UK under the program, which ended in 2024.
• 600 Afghan soldiers and 1,800 family members remain in Afghanistan.
• July 16, 2025: PM Keir Starmer held former Conservative ministers accountable in Parliament.
• Super-injunctions were used to suppress reporting on the breach for four months.
• High Court lifted the super-injunction on July 15, 2025, revealing government actions.
• Labor and Liberal Democrats demand public inquiry into the breach and its handling.
• Affected individuals report safety concerns and emotional distress due to the leak.
Summary
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized the former Conservative government for its handling of a 2022 data breach that exposed the personal information of 19,000 Afghans who had applied to relocate to the UK. The breach, caused by government staff error, was only discovered in August 2023 when the data appeared on Facebook. The government imposed a super-injunction to suppress reporting, which was lifted in July 2025. The Afghan resettlement program, which cost £400 million and resettled 4,500 individuals, has since ended. However, 600 Afghan soldiers and 1,800 family members remain in Afghanistan, facing potential risks. Starmer emphasized the need for accountability, while opposition parties called for a public inquiry. Affected individuals expressed fears for their safety and criticized the UK government for failing to protect their information.
