UK Universities Accused of Hiring Private Firm to Monitor Pro-Palestinian Students and Staff

A joint investigation by Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates has revealed allegations that 12 leading universities in the United Kingdom monitored their own students and staff, including pro-Palestinian activists.

According to the report, the universities allegedly hired a private security firm called Horus Security Consultancy Limited, operated by former British military intelligence officers, to track social media activity and conduct covert background checks on students and researchers.

The investigation claims that since 2022, the universities have paid approximately £440,000 to the firm for intelligence-related services. The company is reportedly led by former British Army officers Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Whiteley and Colonel Tim Collins.

The report further alleges that artificial intelligence tools were used to monitor platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), particularly targeting students involved in protests against military actions in Gaza.

Among those reportedly affected are a Palestinian visiting lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a PhD researcher at the London School of Economics. Internal documents allegedly show that the LSE security team regularly purchased “campus updates” containing student social media activity.

In one case, Manchester Metropolitan University is said to have commissioned a confidential threat assessment on academic Rabab Ibrahim Abdulhadi, which she described as a violation of civil liberties and “investigation before any wrongdoing.”

Other universities named in the report include the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and University College London.

The universities involved have denied wrongdoing, stating that any monitoring was conducted solely for campus safety and to anticipate potential security risks, and that no unlawful sharing of student personal data took place.

Human rights organizations and a United Nations special rapporteur, Gina Romero, have expressed concern, warning that such surveillance could create a “culture of fear” and discourage students from participating in peaceful protest.

The University and College Union (UCU) has condemned the allegations, calling the reported use of student funds for surveillance “deeply shameful.”