Story perspectives

£7 Billion Cleanup After Royal Marine's Afghan Data Leak

7/16/2025

50 7

Summary

Story summary

A Royal Marine mistakenly emailed a spreadsheet containing details of 25,000 Afghans who supported British troops in February 2022.
The UK government estimates the cleanup cost at £7 billion.
A superinjunction was initially granted to protect those named from potential risks.
In 2024, the superinjunction was lifted, indicating possible Taliban awareness of the leaked data.
The Afghanistan Response Route was created to support 200 at-risk individuals, costing taxpayers £6 billion.

1 of 1

Story summary

A Royal Marine mistakenly emailed a spreadsheet containing details of 25,000 Afghans who supported British troops in February 2022.
The UK government estimates the cleanup cost at £7 billion.
A superinjunction was initially granted to protect those named from potential risks.
In 2024, the superinjunction was lifted, indicating possible Taliban awareness of the leaked data.
The Afghanistan Response Route was created to support 200 at-risk individuals, costing taxpayers £6 billion.