The British intelligence service cannot find thousands of data carriers containing secret materials

The UK intelligence agency GCHQ is unable to account for thousands of data storage devices containing sensitive information, according to a report by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO). The report highlights that the whereabouts of numerous devices, including USB drives and hard disks, remain unknown. IPCO's head stated that GCHQ has not provided clarity on the fate of these devices, despite previous warnings. The devices may hold data related to surveillance warrants, including intercepted communications and information extracted from monitored individuals' devices. Last year, IPCO revealed that GCHQ and MI5 could not locate significant numbers of storage devices, some of which may contain classified information.