# Soldier ignored SIM card order, got blackmailed

> A British Army corporal disobeyed operational security instructions, had his phone hacked, and faced court-martial after refusing to remove his SIM card before deployment to Estonia.
- Title: Soldier ignored SIM card order, got blackmailed · Ars Technica
- Summary: A British Army corporal disobeyed operational security instructions, had his phone hacked, and faced court-martial after refusing to remove his SIM card…
- Keywords: daniel barton-kennedy, british army, 1st battalion duke of lancaster regiment, estonia, exercise eastern warrior, operational security, court-martial, blackmail, sim card, Ars Technica
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/11/british-soldier-ignored-order-to-pull-his-sim-card-then-got-blackmailed
- Published: 2026-11-07T11:00:34+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: daniel barton-kennedy, british army, 1st battalion duke of lancaster regiment, estonia, exercise eastern warrior, operational security, court-martial, blackmail, sim card, technology, science
## Soldier ignored security order
Daniel Barton-Kennedy, a corporal with over seven years of service in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, disobeyed direct orders to remove his SIM card before deployment to Estonia in January 2026.
## Clear orders given twice
On January 7, Barton-Kennedy and his unit were briefed to remove SIM cards, switch off location settings, and use a trusted virtual private network on all personal electronic devices.
## Phone hacked, blackmail begins
On January 19, Barton-Kennedy received a message from an unknown party who had acquired nude photographs from his phone and identified him on social media.
## Court-martial and sentence
Barton-Kennedy pleaded guilty at a hearing on July 30.He told the court he needed his phone to reach his daughter on her birthday and his pregnant partner.

> Despite still being in a state of shock and uncertainty, I recognised that I had a duty to report the compromise without any further delay.
## Appeal denied, Army defends rules
Barton-Kennedy appealed his sentence in August 2026 but was denied. Lt. Col. EP Mackie, a British Army spokesperson, said security measures protect personnel safety and breaches will face uncompromising disciplinary action.
## Key takeaway

British soldier Daniel Barton-Kennedy was court-martialed and reduced in rank after ignoring orders to remove his SIM card before deployment to Estonia, leading to his phone being hacked and used for blackmail.