“They need to hear us”: Supporting Afghan voices in the wake of the ARAP data breach  

When a major government error puts lives at risk, media attention is fast and fierce. At IMIX, we know how vital it is to centre the voices of those directly affected – not just to inform the public, but to push for accountability. The ARAP data breach in the summer was one such moment.  

 What happened: A breach with devastating consequences  

In July 2025, it was revealed that personal data belonging to nearly 19,000 Afghan citizens who had applied to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) was mistakenly published online in 2022. Many of these individuals had worked with British forces and remained in Afghanistan. The exposure of their names, family links and locations placed them at severe risk of Taliban reprisals.  A superinjunction had prevented media coverage until July this year. Once lifted, there was a flurry of public interest and a surge in media requests for first-hand stories.  

A rapid and responsible media response  

When breaking news hits, our media team moves quickly – but always ethically. We received requests from outlets including ITV News, Channel 4, Metro, The Daily Mirror, and the i Paper all looking to speak with people affected by the breach.  

We put out a call via our WhatsApp and email networks, reaching out to people with lived experience of the ARAP process to see who felt ready and willing to speak. For each opportunity, we gathered full details from the journalists to understand exactly what the interview would involve – format, timing, anonymity options – so participants could make informed choices.  

We also revisited contacts already in our network and took time to speak with new individuals, prioritising consent, emotional safety and safeguarding throughout. Given the danger still facing many families in Afghanistan, anonymity was essential for several interviewees. 

Useful Resource: Preparing for a Media Interview  
Useful Resource: Safeguarding  

Behind the headlines: Human stories, real risks  

The nature of breaking news means we can spend hours preparing someone for an interview, only for a journalist or producer to drop contact without warning. This can be disheartening for people who’ve shared difficult personal details or prepared themselves emotionally to speak out. Managing expectations is part of our role – but so is pushing the media to understand the impact of these last-minute changes. Thankfully, many journalists do get it. Over the past few years, we’ve built strong relationships with reporters who treat these stories with care, sensitivity and respect.  

The stories that were heard  

We helped connect lived experience voices to national coverage, including:  

• i Paper: “My name was on the leaked Afghan list – my family is terrified”.  
  Freelance journalist Lauren interviewed “Sharjeela”, who shared the fear and uncertainty her family now faces.  

• Metro: “I’m living in fear after the Afghan data breach”.  
  This first-person piece was written by someone in our network who wanted their voice to be heard.  

• ITV News: “Left behind in Afghanistan: Tales from behind Taliban lines”  
  We connected reporter Luke with “Khadija”, who spoke anonymously about the terrifying impact of the breach on her family still in hiding.  

Why this work matters  

Stories like these help humanise what would otherwise be reduced to statistics about bureaucratic mistakes. They show the real-world consequences of government failure – and why policy must be shaped not just around data, but around people.  

 We’re proud to have supported those who wanted to speak out, and we remain ready to do so – not just in moments of crisis, but every day. Because those most affected by migration policy deserve to be heard, not just spoken about.  

 If you’re someone with lived experience who wants to tell your story – get in touch. We’re here to help make that happen, on your terms.