MI6 is investigating how one of its digital cameras containing
sensitive terrorism pictures was sold on eBay.
The images on the camera, sold on eBay to a Hertfordshire man,
included pictures of terror suspects and details of computer
operating systems used by MI6.
The Sun newspaper reports that the camera's memory card held
sensitive information about al-Qaeda suspects, fingerprints and
suspects' academic records, as well as pictures of rocket launchers
and missiles.
The camera also had detailed information about an MI6 computer
system.
The Nikon digital camera was put up for sale on the internet
trading site and was sold for just £17.
The buyer of the camera is said to have bought the camera for a
US holiday. When he returned and processed his pictures he found
the bonus prints on MI6.
He handed them into Hemel Hempstead police station, where
Special Branch was called in. The camera has now been seized by
them.
It is the latest in a series of data breach gaffes by a
government department.