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Superinjunction against Afghan data breach lifted

The UK government has lifted a superinjunction related to a significant data breach after 600 days.

July 16, 2025 at 05:13 PM

What are superinjunctions and why was one imposed in Afghan case?

A significant legal order was removed, allowing reporting on a sensitive data breach.

Superinjunction against Afghan data breach lifted after 600 days

A superinjunction placed on reporting a data breach that affected 15,000 Afghans was lifted after more than 600 days. The UK government had kept this breach under wraps, which could cost over £2 billion in a secret relocation scheme. This legal order prevented not only the disclosure of information but also the knowledge of the order's existence. The Ministry of Defence had initially sought a standard injunction, but it was escalated to a superinjunction without clear reasoning. A review by a former civil servant led to the injunction being deemed unnecessary, as it was determined that being in the dataset did not pose immediate targeting threats by the Taliban.

Key Takeaways

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The superinjunction lasted over 600 days before being lifted.

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The UK's secrecy over the Afghan data breach is now exposed to public scrutiny.

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Government aims to protect Afghans may conflict with transparency demands.

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This case may lead to future legal challenges regarding superinjunctions.

"It appears unlikely that merely being on the dataset would be grounds for targeting."

This quote addresses the risk level of individuals affected by the data breach

"My priority was to protect those people who could have been or were exposed by this data leak."

This statement highlights the government’s stated intentions behind seeking the superinjunction.

The lifting of the superinjunction reflects growing tensions around government transparency and accountability. The prolonged secrecy surrounding the Afghan data breach highlights a significant risk in protecting individuals from potential harm while balancing the public's right to know. Superinjunctions, often used in cases of national security, sparked debates about their usage and justification, especially when public interests are at stake. This may signify a shift toward greater scrutiny of such legal mechanisms in the future.