Zack Whittaker3d ago

NEW: UK Visa Portal, a website that lets people apply for a UK visa, spilled thousands of applicants' passports, selfies, and location data online.

The data exposure is now fixed, but not before the company sent attorneys and a public relations firm our way — which is very weird!

My updated story: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/27/uk-visa-portal-spilled-thousands-of-applicants-passports-and-selfies-online-and-hasnt-fixed-the-leak/

UK Visa Portal exposed thousands of applicants’ passports and selfies — then called the lawyers on us | TechCrunch

The third-party website exposed passports, selfies, and the location data of applicants who submitted their documents as part of the U.K. visa application process. Instead of fixing the issue, the website sent attorneys.

TechCrunch
Show threadIan Wardell, J.D.
@zackwhittaker This is great reporting, and honestly the PSA you give up front is probably worth shouting from rooftops: "The website is not affiliated with the U.K. government, and some have complained that they mistakenly paid a fee to this company instead of using the official GOV.UK website."
May 27 at 10:40pmMoshidon
Show threadHubert Figuière3d ago

@cytechlaw @zackwhittaker of course they will be held liable for this....

(NOT)