UK universities 'said they would monitor student social media accounts for arms firms'

Universities in the UK told arms companies that they would monitor students’ chat groups and social media accounts after firms raised concerns about protests on campus, according to a report in the Guardian citing internal emails.

One university stated that it would conduct “active monitoring of social media” for any plans to protest against Rolls-Royce at a careers event.

Another university appeared to agree to a request from Raytheon UK to “monitor university chat groups” before a campus visit.

The emails were obtained after a freedom of information request by the Guardian and Liberty Investigates.