UK suspends official behind data breach revealing details of 250 Afghan interpreters - World News
UK suspends official behind data breach revealing details of 250 Afghan interpreters
Britain's defence ministry said on Wednesday an employee has been suspended over a data breach revealing details of interpreters in Afghanistan seeking relocation.
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Reuters
London
September 23, 2021UPDATED: September 23, 2021 08:02 IST
Afghanistan Kabul airport
Afghan refugees board a flight out of Kabul. (File photo: AP)
Britain's defence ministry said on Wednesday an employee has been suspended over a data breach revealing details of interpreters in Afghanistan seeking relocation to Britain after the Taliban retook control of the country last month.
The defence minister Ben Wallace apologised and launched an investigation on Tuesday after an email sent to more than 250 people seeking relocation mistakenly copied all applicants, so they were visible to other recipients.
"An individual has already been suspended," the defence ministry said in a tweet. "Steps have already been taken to ensure this does not happen in the future. We apologise to those affected and extra support is being offered to them."
Britain on Tuesday apologised for a data breach revealing details of people in Afghanistan seeking relocation to Britain after the Taliban retook control of the country when foreign troops withdrew earlier this year.
Britain, the United States and other NATO members scrambled to evacuate their own nationals and others who had worked for them after the Taliban wrongfooted the West and seized control of Kabul much sooner than expected.
Wallace said an email from Britain's Afghan Relocations Assistance Policy - the scheme used to help interpreters and others who had worked for Britain - had compromised more than 250 recipients by copying, rather than blind-copying their email addresses.
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Wallace said he was sorry and launched an investigation.
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"I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with whom we are now working ... to provide security advice," defence minister Ben Wallace told parliament.
Lawmakers responded to Wallace by saying the breach had put the lives of those on the list at risk because the Taliban might be able to identify them and punish them for helping Western forces.
Wallace said those concerned had been advised to change their email address, and intelligence agencies were assessing risks to their safety.
Britain's defence ministry said on Wednesday an employee has been suspended over a data breach revealing details of interpreters in Afghanistan seeking relocation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reuters
London
September 23, 2021UPDATED: September 23, 2021 08:02 IST
Afghanistan Kabul airport
Afghan refugees board a flight out of Kabul. (File photo: AP)
Britain's defence ministry said on Wednesday an employee has been suspended over a data breach revealing details of interpreters in Afghanistan seeking relocation to Britain after the Taliban retook control of the country last month.
The defence minister Ben Wallace apologised and launched an investigation on Tuesday after an email sent to more than 250 people seeking relocation mistakenly copied all applicants, so they were visible to other recipients.
"An individual has already been suspended," the defence ministry said in a tweet. "Steps have already been taken to ensure this does not happen in the future. We apologise to those affected and extra support is being offered to them."
Britain on Tuesday apologised for a data breach revealing details of people in Afghanistan seeking relocation to Britain after the Taliban retook control of the country when foreign troops withdrew earlier this year.
Britain, the United States and other NATO members scrambled to evacuate their own nationals and others who had worked for them after the Taliban wrongfooted the West and seized control of Kabul much sooner than expected.
Wallace said an email from Britain's Afghan Relocations Assistance Policy - the scheme used to help interpreters and others who had worked for Britain - had compromised more than 250 recipients by copying, rather than blind-copying their email addresses.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wallace said he was sorry and launched an investigation.
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"I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with whom we are now working ... to provide security advice," defence minister Ben Wallace told parliament.
Lawmakers responded to Wallace by saying the breach had put the lives of those on the list at risk because the Taliban might be able to identify them and punish them for helping Western forces.
Wallace said those concerned had been advised to change their email address, and intelligence agencies were assessing risks to their safety.
