Emails reveal UK universities offered to monitor student social media for arms firms

A joint investigation by The Guardian and independent unit Liberty Investigates has revealed email correspondence between UK universities and arms firms, including BAE Systems and Raytheon UK.

Emails between Heriot-Watt University (HUW) and Raytheon show an approved request to the university to “monitor student chat groups” ahead of the defence firm’s appearance at the HWU careers fair.

The findings come as hundreds of students have attended pro-Palestinian protests across the country

An HWU spokesperson “strongly refuted” the claim, stating that: “staff could not access student group chats or forums” in response to The Guardian. Raytheon declined The Guardian’s request for comment.

The defence firm BAE Systems, in emails sent to the University of Glasgow, required them to complete a “university security questionnaire” which asked if the University was aware of “any social media protests or videos.”

Neither BAE Systems nor the University of Glasgow responded to The Guardian’s request for comment.

The findings come as hundreds of students have attended pro-Palestinian protests across the country on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, condemning the British government’s involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Students at Warwick have characterised these findings […] as: ‘an end to free speech in academic spaces’

Further information obtained by Liberty Investigates under the Freedom of Information Act indicates that 37 of 154 universities surveyed have launched disciplinary measures against pro-Palestinian staff and students.

The University of Warwick was found to have no known cases of disciplinary investigation.

Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union, stated: “It is utterly shameful that universities have spent time and resources surveilling students who are engaged in peaceful protest against genocide.” She added: “[student protestors] should be supported by their universities.”

Students at Warwick have characterised these findings to The Boar as: “an end to free speech in academic spaces,” “senseless,” and a “misuse of dignity and privacy.”