Following a major data breach by the British military, the government was compelled to secretly relocate thousands of Afghan nationals, incurring costs exceeding $1.1 billion. The leak, which exposed the personal details of 33,000 individuals who had previously collaborated with British forces, came to light in 2023 when the data was posted online, prompting concerns over potential retaliation against these individuals.
Attempts to conceal the breach led to the implementation of a ‘super-injunction’ under the codename Operation Rubific, which was used to obscure the government’s actions. Despite this, the data breach had far-reaching implications, with the government initiating a covert resettlement operation to protect those deemed at risk. The total cost of these efforts has reached £850 million, with additional financial commitments expected due to pending legal challenges and ongoing relocation efforts.
British Defence Secretary John Healey issued an apology, acknowledging the severity of the incident and its impact on affected individuals. The government’s handling of the breach, which occurred under the previous administration, has sparked public and political discourse on accountability and transparency in state operations. As the total financial cost climbs towards £6 billion, the situation continues to raise questions about the implications of data security and government responsibility in such high-profile events.