My focus was on saving lives after Afghan data breach, Shapps says

Former UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has defended his decision-making following the 2022 Afghan data breach, stating that his focus was on saving lives. The breach, which occurred when the details of Afghan citizens who had worked with British forces were inadvertently shared online, raised concerns about the safety of those individuals. Shapps argued that erring on the side of caution was "entirely justified" in such a sensitive situation, prioritizing the protection of Afghans over transparency. He acknowledged the criticism directed at the government's handling of the incident but maintained that the safety of those affected was the primary concern. The former defence secretary emphasized the complexity of the situation and the need to navigate it carefully, balancing the competing priorities of national security, individual privacy, and humanitarian considerations. Shapps' comments come amid ongoing discussions about the government's response to the data breach and the lessons that can be learned from this experience.