LONDON: A UK Ministry of Defense data breach that jeopardized the security of thousands of Afghans was dealt with via “a few unrecorded meetings and a handshake,” an MP has said.
Kit Malthouse described the handling of the incident — which saw the details of Afghans who worked with British forces made available online, prompting a massive evacuation program amid fears that those named in the leak could be targeted by the Taliban — as “alarming.”
The breach, containing 33,000 lines of data, and the subsequent evacuation only became public knowledge two years later after a superinjunction imposed by the government was lifted by a court.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office, which was made aware of the breach, chose not to launch an investigation at the time.
It has now emerged that the ICO also failed to keep any notes about the decision not to investigate, claiming that this was due to the case involving classified information.
John Edwards, the UK information commissioner, told the science, innovation and technology committee of the House of Commons on Tuesday that the ICO had relied on the “honesty” of the MoD when choosing not to investigate.
Malthouse, a member of the committee, responded: “What you’ve broadly said to us is that it was dealt with a few unrecorded meetings and a handshake. ‘See ya,’ nothing to see here.
“It seems extraordinary to me given the severity and the impact of it ... The picture you’ve painted of the way the ICO handled it seems alarming.”
MP Lauren Sullivan told Edwards: “It sounds like your method of investigation relies a lot on the honesty of the person you’re investigating.”
Edwards replied: “We didn’t investigate. Yes we were relying on honesty. Had we later found we were misled, we could’ve investigated.”
MP Chi Onwurah, the committee chair, said: “When I saw some of the details of the Ministry of Defense data breach, I was astounded that that could be part of government data practice — (a) 33,000-line Excel file, with top-secret information, bandied about like confetti. This is not an individual failure ... It was an institutional failing.”
Edwards said the ICO, which launched an investigation into a smaller MoD breach involving 245 Afghans, lacked sufficient trained staff to deal with issues concerning top-secret information, but added that it was irrelevant as the regulator did not launch an investigation in this case.
“We’re able to investigate top-secret matters. We chose not to because it would’ve tied up resources which would’ve been better used elsewhere,” he said. “We were confident that the ministry was taking it seriously.”
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Handling of UK Afghan data breach ‘alarming’: MP
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Handling of UK Afghan data breach ‘alarming’: MP
- Kit Malthouse: Incident dealt with via ‘a few unrecorded meetings and a handshake’
- Thousands of Afghans evacuated after personal details published online, putting them at risk of Taliban reprisals
At Grammys, ‘ICE out’ message loud and clear
- Music’s A-listers on Sunday lashed out at the immigration raids rocking the United States at the Grammy Awards, with Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny setting the tone
LOS ANGELES: Music’s A-listers on Sunday lashed out at the immigration raids rocking the United States at the Grammy Awards, with Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny setting the tone.
Anger was palpable at President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, whose heavily armed and masked agents have been deployed in multiple US cities.
The killing of two US citizens by federal agents last month in Minneapolis raised the temperature for many Americans, already anxious over what they think are unfocused operations unjustly sweeping up anyone who speaks Spanish or has brown skin.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ‘ICE out’,” Bad Bunny said to cheers from the audience in Los Angeles — only a week before he is due to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens; we are humans and we are Americans,” the singer said after being given the Grammy for Best Musica Urbana Album.
The reggaeton star was not alone in calling out the actions of ICE, one of the lead agencies involved in the crackdown.
Among the couture frocks by Valentino, Chanel and Saint Laurent on the red carpet, several of those attending added an “ICE out” button to their outfits.
They included power couple Justin and Hailey Bieber, veteran songstress Joni Mitchell, US singer Jordan Tyson and actress and singer Helen J. Shen.
“I’m scared, I’m very worried,” Gloria Estefan told AFP backstage after winning the Grammy for best tropical Latin album.
“I don’t think anyone would say we want a free-for-all at the border, but what is happening is not at all ‘criminals being arrested’.
“These are people that have families, that have contributed to this country for decades, little children. There are hundreds of children in detention centers. It’s inhumane. I don’t recognize my country at this moment.”
“I guess I want to say I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” British singer Olivia Dean — who has an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother — said after scooping the prestigious Best New Artist Grammy.
“I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
“Immigrants built this country,” the breakout country star Shaboozey, who was born in Virginia to Nigerian parents, told the audience after winning the Grammy for best country duo/group performance with Jelly Roll.
“So this is for them, for all children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it,” said the artist.
“Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color.”
US singer Billie Eilish, whose “Wildflower” scored the Grammy for Song of the Year, said she felt grateful for the award.
But, she added: “As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but that no one is illegal on stolen land.
“It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
“It’s incredibly dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades... and people are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street,” said R&B singer SZA, who shared Record of the Year honors with Kendrick Lamar.
“It just feels bizarre, and I find so many of us don’t really know how to feel right now, besides rage and hopelessness,” she said.
“I just don’t want everyone to fall into despair, because when you lose... morale, change becomes impossible.”
Anger was palpable at President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, whose heavily armed and masked agents have been deployed in multiple US cities.
The killing of two US citizens by federal agents last month in Minneapolis raised the temperature for many Americans, already anxious over what they think are unfocused operations unjustly sweeping up anyone who speaks Spanish or has brown skin.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ‘ICE out’,” Bad Bunny said to cheers from the audience in Los Angeles — only a week before he is due to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens; we are humans and we are Americans,” the singer said after being given the Grammy for Best Musica Urbana Album.
The reggaeton star was not alone in calling out the actions of ICE, one of the lead agencies involved in the crackdown.
Among the couture frocks by Valentino, Chanel and Saint Laurent on the red carpet, several of those attending added an “ICE out” button to their outfits.
They included power couple Justin and Hailey Bieber, veteran songstress Joni Mitchell, US singer Jordan Tyson and actress and singer Helen J. Shen.
“I’m scared, I’m very worried,” Gloria Estefan told AFP backstage after winning the Grammy for best tropical Latin album.
“I don’t think anyone would say we want a free-for-all at the border, but what is happening is not at all ‘criminals being arrested’.
“These are people that have families, that have contributed to this country for decades, little children. There are hundreds of children in detention centers. It’s inhumane. I don’t recognize my country at this moment.”
“I guess I want to say I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” British singer Olivia Dean — who has an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother — said after scooping the prestigious Best New Artist Grammy.
“I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
“Immigrants built this country,” the breakout country star Shaboozey, who was born in Virginia to Nigerian parents, told the audience after winning the Grammy for best country duo/group performance with Jelly Roll.
“So this is for them, for all children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it,” said the artist.
“Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color.”
US singer Billie Eilish, whose “Wildflower” scored the Grammy for Song of the Year, said she felt grateful for the award.
But, she added: “As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but that no one is illegal on stolen land.
“It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
“It’s incredibly dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades... and people are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street,” said R&B singer SZA, who shared Record of the Year honors with Kendrick Lamar.
“It just feels bizarre, and I find so many of us don’t really know how to feel right now, besides rage and hopelessness,” she said.
“I just don’t want everyone to fall into despair, because when you lose... morale, change becomes impossible.”
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