Lost data could expose British officers to spying, blackmail


associated press
LONDON – An internal military memo published today confirmed that computer disks lost at a British Royal Air Force base contained sensitive files on the private lives of senior officers, including answers to vetting questions about drug abuse, extramarital affairs and the use of prostitutes.
The memo was released to Britain's Guardian newspaper under freedom of information laws following the loss of data disks in September,
At the time of the theft from RAF Innsworth, about 113 miles west of London, Britain's defence ministry said only that personal data such as bank details and addresses could have been lost.
But the memo confirms that the data included details of security vetting, potentially involving information on criminal convictions, debts, medical conditions and sexual activity.
"This data provides an excellent target list for foreign intelligence services, investigative journalists and blackmailers," the memo stated.

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