MoD to fight damages bid

Afghans in data leak told Taliban reprisals ‘highly unlikely’

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Thousands of Afghans included on a list of people trying to flee the Taliban are likely to miss out on compensation after their details were accidentally leaked.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it will “robustly defend” an expected legal bid for compensation, adding it is “highly unlikely” those on the leaked spreadsheet were targeted as a result. It will also not proactively offer small compensation payments to those affected by the breach.

The data breach saw details of 18,714 applicants for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme released in 2022. It exposed up to 100,000 Afghans to potential reprisals from the Taliban, cost the UK taxpayer billions and prompted a two-year cover-up through the use of an unprecedented superinjunction.