Labour targets anti-migrant protesters with terrorist tracking software

A Whitehall disinformation unit has been using tools designed for counter-terrorism to monitor criticism of asylum hotels.

This revelation comes after the team flagged concerning narratives during the Southport riots, prompting warnings from the Trump administration about potential free speech violations in the UK. The National Security and Online Information Team used technology originally developed to locate Islamic State content online.

Faculty, the AI firm behind this technology, received a £2.3 million contract to develop a "counter disinformation data platform." This platform has evolved from its initial use against terrorism to now address posts considered a national security risk. Emails between the NSOIT and TikTok indicate officials expressed concern over violence-inciting posts related to asylum hotels.