PRESS RELEASE: 24 October 2025

Afghans affected by MoD data breach report devastating impact

Afghans whose data was leaked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) say they have received death threats and that family members and colleagues in Afghanistan have been killed, threatened, and harassed as a result of the breach. This evidence was submitted to the Defence Select Committee inquiry by Refugee Legal Support, in consultation with Professor Victoria Canning of Lancaster University and Professor Sara de Jong of the University of York.

Two thirds of respondents (231 out of 350) said they received notification from the MoD that their data had been leaked. Among those notified, 87% reported personal risks or threats to family members as a result of the data breach. Nine percent said a family member had been killed, 12% reported that a colleague had been killed, 43% reported a direct threat to their own life, and 52% said that family members or friends in Afghanistan had been threatened by the Taliban.

A former member of the Triple Special Forces said: “Our home has been searched multiple times. My father was brutally beaten to the point that his toenails were forcibly removed, and my parents remain under constant and serious threat. My family and I continue to face intimidation, repeated house searches, and ongoing danger to our safety.”

Several respondents said the delay in communication about the breach had a detrimental impact on their ability to take safety measures. A former Afghan National Army member currently residing in Afghanistan said that the delay between the discovery of the breach in 2023 and notification in July 2025 was deeply concerning and unacceptable. They explained that waiting almost two years to inform individuals that their personal data had been compromised put lives at unnecessary risk, and that earlier notification could have allowed protective measures to be taken much sooner. They described the delay as showing a serious lack of urgency and responsibility by the Ministry of Defence, particularly given the sensitive nature of their backgrounds and the high-risk environment in which they live.

Refugee Legal Support’s Executive Director, Olivia Clark, said that the research lays bare the devastating human consequences of the MoD data breach. She explained that by centring Afghan voices and documenting their experiences, the research fills a critical gap in understanding the real-world impact of the breach. She added that Afghans who served alongside UK forces have reported renewed threats, violent assaults, and even the killing of family members after their personal details were exposed. She stated that only a minority of those affected have been offered relocation to the UK, and called on the UK government to invite all affected Afghans to submit evidence of the risks they and their families face, and to review negative decisions in their cases.

The survey’s open-ended responses indicated that the security advice provided was overly general, inappropriate for the local context in Afghanistan, and failed to offer any concrete support for those at risk.

Afghans both in Afghanistan and in the UK reported a profound impact on their mental health as a result of the data leak, with 89% describing negative effects.

Notes to editors

The full evidence submitted to the Defence Select Committee can be viewed at: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/149931/html/

The survey, conducted in English, Dari, and Pashto, was carried out by Refugee Legal Support in consultation with Professor Victoria Canning of Lancaster University and Professor Sara de Jong of the University of York. It was disseminated by Afghan resettlement stakeholders between 23 September and 5 October 2025. Participation was voluntary and open to anyone over the age of 18 affected by the Afghan data breach. The survey did not collect personal information, and all responses were anonymised.

The survey received 350 valid responses. Of these, 155 respondents were based in the UK, 152 in Afghanistan, 33 in third countries outside Europe, and 10 were in European countries or selected “prefer not to say”.

About Refugee Legal Support

Refugee Legal Support is a UK charity working in solidarity with people who migrate. The organisation promotes and protects their rights through legal support, casework, engagement, training, and partnerships. It advocates for safe migration and opposes discriminatory immigration systems and policies.

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