UK plans social media monitoring squad to track anti-migrant posts
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London: The British government is reportedly planning to set up a dedicated online intelligence unit to monitor anti-migrant content on social media in an effort to prevent the spread of misinformation and reduce the risk of violent protests, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph.
The proposed National Internet Intelligence Investigations Team would operate from the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) in London and draw personnel from police forces across the UK. The NPoCC currently handles nationwide coordination in response to civil unrest and protests.
The plan was revealed in a letter from UK Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson to Members of Parliament. Johnson confirmed that the government is considering recommendations from both the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) following last year’s unrest.
“This team will provide a national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise on its use to inform local operational decision-making,” Johnson wrote. “It will serve as a dedicated function at a national level for exploiting internet intelligence to help local forces manage public safety threats and risks.”
The proposal comes after anti-immigration protests erupted in several towns — including Norwich, Leeds and Bournemouth — over the weekend, largely outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
The Home Affairs Committee inquiry was launched following riots in August 2024 that stemmed from online misinformation. The unrest was reportedly triggered by false claims about the immigration status of Axel Rudakubana, a Welsh-born man of Rwandan descent who fatally stabbed three schoolgirls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport in July 2024.
The committee had recommended the establishment of a national-level policing unit with enhanced capacity to track and respond to online activity. HMICFRS echoed those concerns, warning that policing had become too “passive” in the face of rapidly evolving online misinformation.
“The disorder in 2024 shows that policing needs to act now and be more responsive to those risks,” the watchdog stated. “It must recognise that online content could contain vital intelligence.”
However, the proposed plan has sparked backlash from opposition figures who fear it could undermine freedom of expression.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the initiative, saying, “Two-tier Keir can't police the streets, so he's trying to police opinions instead. They’re setting up a central team to monitor what you post, what you share, what you think — because deep down, they know the public doesn’t buy what they’re selling.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also condemned the plan, calling it “the beginning of the state controlling free speech.” He warned: “It is sinister, dangerous and must be fought. Reform UK will do just that.”
With PTI inputs
