Archive · 3 Sep 2025
UK Doesn't Know Cost of Afghan Data Leak, Watchdog Says
The UK government is unsure how much it will cost to relocate thousands of Afghans after a serious data leak.
In early 2022, sensitive information about people seeking resettlement was accidentally shared, putting them at risk.
The government set up a special scheme to help these individuals.
The National Audit Office, a government spending watchdog, has questioned the accuracy of the cost estimates.
An estimated 7,355 people will need to be resettled, and the government is unsure of how much has been spent on the scheme.
The leak included details about individuals who had worked with or for the British government.
The government's initial estimate for the relocation costs is 850 million pounds.
UK's MoD doesn't know the exact cost of relocating thousands of Afghans after a data leak.
The NAO cast doubt on the 850-million-pound cost estimate.
An MoD official accidentally emailed sensitive data, which was later published on Facebook.
The leak affected up to 27,278 people relocated under different programs.
The leak included information about lawmakers and senior military figures.
- Who
- UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and National Audit Office (NAO)
- What
- Data leak of Afghan resettlement details and associated costs
- When
- Early 2022 (data leak); report released Wednesday (NAO report)
- Where
- UK
- Why
- To bring Afghans back to the UK after a data leak that put them at risk.
- Incident
- Massive data leak of Afghan resettlement details
- Affected People
- Up to 27,278 Afghans
- Estimated Resettlement Needs
- 7,355 people through ARR scheme
- Leak Details
- Accidental email with details published on Facebook
- Current Cost Estimate
- 850 million pounds (unconfirmed)
- Entities Involved
- UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), National Audit Office (NAO)