Autonomy e-discovery issues prompt fresh scrutiny of past SFO cases
The Serious Fraud Office has confirmed that it is nearing completion of a major review into historic conviction cases that relied on its legacy Autonomy e-discovery system, following concerns about potential disclosure failures.
In an update published on 12 February 2026, Director of Operations Emma Luxton said the SFO identified 66 historic conviction cases that used the Autonomy platform and required examination to determine whether any undisclosed material might cast doubt on the safety of convictions.
Only three cases now remain under review. The SFO has stated that it has not identified any material that casts doubt upon the safety of any past conviction.
The review forms part of the agency’s post-conviction disclosure obligations. The SFO confirmed that it has contacted every defendant possible to share the findings and outline the review process. Defendants who believe their cases may have been affected and who have not been contacted are invited to approach the SFO directly.
However, the agency has also disclosed a separate technical issue discovered in late November 2025 involving the same legacy Autonomy system.
This issue concerns the way certain digital container files were expanded within the platform. As a result, some items may not have been available for review at the time cases were handled.
The SFO believes this secondary issue may have affected approximately 20 cases. One of those has already been reviewed, with no evidence found of any material having been missed. Further reviews are now underway in relation to the remaining cases.
The agency confirmed that it continues to discuss the review process with the Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, reflecting the seriousness of disclosure compliance in complex criminal prosecutions.
The SFO emphasised that it has seen no evidence that relevant and disclosable material was missed. Nonetheless, it said it must satisfy itself that its disclosure obligations have been fully met.
Importantly, the agency stated that the issue does not affect its current e-discovery system.
The original review was first referenced in February 2025, when the SFO committed to examining historic cases that had relied on the Autonomy platform. That work is now close to completion.
A further update will be provided once the outstanding reviews are concluded.