Tri-Service
MoD Accused Of "Terrifying Error" After Names Published Online
Details of 20,000 people connected to the military have been published online by the MoD, raising concerns that they could be targeted by terrorists.
The name, rank, and army number of every regular and reservist officer, and OTC trainee, was put out on the government's website as an online version of The Army List, which has always been publicly accessible in hard copy.
Major Chris Green, a reservist who has left the forces but whose details are on the list, told the Times:
"This is a serious security threat when ISIS and other groups are looking to target individuals... It is actually a pretty terrifying error."
Major Green added that he didn't mind being named by the newspaper as he has just published a book that identifies him as a soldier.
A serving reservist, meanwhile, said the move has "basically provided a target list for ISIS."
The MoD did change its policy last year by limiting the publication of names to those at the one-star/brigadier level and above, as they are generally regarded as being in the public eye anyway.
But the list of officers of lower ranks was published before this policy shift, and with no plans to remove it, some are concerned that it could facilitate attacks on these military personnel.
Since the murder of Lee Rigby in 2013, military personnel are discouraged from making themselves a target by wearing their uniforms in public.
However, with a more prominent public profile than regulars, reservists are considered to be at risk of their published names being used to track down more sensitive information about them online.
A spokesman for the MoD, meanwhile, said:
"The security of our people is our foremost concern and we keep measures to address the threats to them under constant review".
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