British Universities Paid Security Firm to Monitor Pro-Palestine Students, Investigation Finds

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t least 12 British universities paid a private security consultancy run by former military intelligence officials to monitor student activists and academics, including individuals expressing support for Palestine, according to a joint investigation by Al Jazeera English and Liberty Investigates.

The investigation found that Horus Security Consultancy Limited, a firm established by former military personnel, collected and analyzed publicly available data from social media platforms, conducted background checks, and produced intelligence briefings for universities across the United Kingdom. The activity, which universities say is aimed at maintaining campus safety, has sparked criticism from rights groups, academics, and student activists who argue it amounts to systematic surveillance.

Documents obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests reveal that universities collectively paid the firm at least £440,000 ($594,000) between 2022 and early 2025. Institutions named in the investigation include some of the UK’s most prominent universities, among them Oxford, Cambridge colleges through affiliates, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), King’s College London (KCL), and others.

Open-source data

According to the findings, Horus provided a service that compiled daily or periodic intelligence updates using open-source data, including students’ social media posts. These reports were sometimes sold to universities for subscription fees of around £900 per month.

One such case involved a PhD student at the London School of Economics (LSE), whose social media activity during a pro-Gaza protest encampment in 2024 was included in a briefing sent to university security staff. The student, Lizzie Hobbs, said she was unaware her posts had been monitored until contacted by journalists.

“We knew surveillance was happening, but it is shocking to see how systematized it is,” she said, describing the practice as “deeply concerning.”

The investigation also highlighted the case of Palestinian-American academic Rabab Ibrahim Abdulhadi, who was subjected to a counter-terrorism “threat assessment” prior to delivering a guest lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2023. The assessment, commissioned by the university, reviewed her academic work, public statements, and social media presence.

“Shocked” to learn of the report

Abdulhadi said she was “shocked” to learn of the report, adding that it raised serious questions about academic freedom. “They made an assumption of guilt and started investigating me because of my scholarship,” she said.

Universities have defended their use of external intelligence services, citing legal obligations and security concerns. Under the UK’s Prevent strategy, institutions are required to assess risks related to extremism, including those associated with external speakers and campus events.

A spokesperson for Manchester Metropolitan University said such assessments are routine and necessary to “ensure the safety of our community and external speakers.” Similarly, Imperial College London stated that the information gathered by Horus is drawn from publicly available sources and is used to identify potential risks, not to surveil individuals.

The University of Sheffield also rejected claims of targeting activists, saying its use of external services is intended to “horizon scan” for large-scale events that could affect campus operations. “It is incorrect to suggest this discourages lawful protest,” a spokesperson said.

Serious ethical and legal concerns

However, critics argue that the scale and nature of the monitoring raise serious ethical and legal concerns. Gina Romero, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, warned that the use of artificial intelligence to analyse student data could lead to disproportionate surveillance.

“The use of AI to harvest and analyze student data under the guise of open-source intelligence raises profound legal concerns,” she said, adding that such practices may lack transparency and accountability.

The investigation also found that several universities refused to disclose the full extent of their contracts with Horus, citing commercial sensitivity. Under the UK’s Freedom of Information Act, institutions can withhold information if its release could harm a third party’s business interests.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), criticized universities for what she described as a misuse of public funds. “It is shameful that institutions have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds monitoring their own students,” she said.