Uses of social media for identifying domestic extremism and disorder

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) did not have the information requested.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

This is a freedom of information request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My questions primarily concern the collection of information from social media sites for risk and threat assessment, especially where the identification of domestic extremism and disorder is concerned.

To that end, could you please answer the following questions:

1. What programs are used for the collection of Social Media Intelligence (Socmint)? Is the Channel system for measuring risk still in use?

2. Do the MPS collect all of their own Socmint, or is the collection and analysis of data occasionally conducted by a private company? What companies?

3. What guidelines for good practice are provided to divisions conducting Socmint analysis?

4. What types of threats are identified using Socmint?

5. What are some of the indicators of domestic extremism and related threats?

If you are unable to respond to any single part(s) of these questions, I further request that you nonetheless comply with any and all parts that can be answered.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Lina Dencik, Cardiff University, UK

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Dr. Dencik

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015070001938

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 28/07/2015.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

"1. What programs are used for the collection of Social Media Intelligence
(Socmint)? Is the Channel system for measuring risk still in use?

2. Do the MPS collect all of their own Socmint, or is the collection and
analysis of data occasionally conducted by a private company? What
companies?

3. What guidelines for good practice are provided to divisions conducting
Socmint analysis?

4. What types of threats are identified using Socmint?

5. What are some of the indicators of domestic extremism and related
threats?"

Your request will now be allocated to the relevant unit within the MPS and
will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(the Act).  

You will receive your response directly from the relevant unit within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act.  

In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this deadline.  If
this is likely you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the
earliest opportunity.

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Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
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Yours sincerely

R. Loizou
Support Officer - Freedom of Information Triage Team

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please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

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TJ Wright left an annotation ()

You may want to look to Scotland to see how this is being mobilised in practice. Integrates; Social Media, CCTV, Facial recognition, mobile phone/tablet/desktop access, crime data (even of people not convicted), interactive facial recognition, biometrics, behavioural emotional intelligence linked to Social Media "moods" and predictive policing data, email, texts (with the new counter~terrorism act, any 'flag word's will trigger automatic intelligence scrutiny). Working hand~in~hand with Reform (Policing, court & public bodies next). Data utilised over the Israeli 'NICE' system and police systems including i6 & C3i in conjunction with CONTEST CT criteria!

http://www.misco.co.uk/blog/news/03010/p...

http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/infocus/th...

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d119ac06-e57e-...

https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/future...

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/explor...

TJ Wright left an annotation ()

Also integrates with Traffic cameras, smart streetlights, and your movements via any phone social network applications. Breaching international, National & European Human Rights, data protection, and privacy legislation with all the civilian staff involvement. Vetting? Training? Civil Liberties?

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

 
 
Dear Ms Dencik
 
Freedom of Information Act Request Reference No: 2015070001938
 
I write in connection with your request for information  which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 28/07/2015.  I note
you seek access to the following information:
 
·       1. What programs are used for the collection of Social Media
Intelligence (Socmint)? Is the Channel system for measuring risk still in
use?
 
 
 
2. Do the MPS collect all of their own Socmint, or is the collection and
analysis of data occasionally conducted by a private company? What
companies?
 
 
 
3. What guidelines for good practice are provided to divisions conducting
Socmint analysis?
 
 
 
4. What types of threats are identified using Socmint?
 
 
 
5. What are some of the indicators of domestic extremism and related
threats?
 
This is to inform you that I cannot identify any specific records /
documents that will satisfy your request based on the details you have
provided.  To enable the MPS to meet your request could you please provide
this office with further information.  I provide some guidance that may
assist you more clearly describe the information you require:
 
Please could you contact me via emailing me at [email address] so
that we can discuss your request?
 
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
 
 
 
 
Karen Fox
Information Manager
Protective Marking: NPM
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Recipients of this email should be aware that all communications within
and to and from the Metropolitan Police Service are subject to
consideration for release under the Data Protection Act, Freedom of
Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. The MPS will
consider information for release unless there is are valid and
proportionate public interest reasons not to, therefore, sensitive
information not for public disclosure must be highlighted as such. Further
advice can be obtained from the Public Access Office - 020 7161 3500
(783500).
 
 
 
 

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Dr Dencik

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015070001938
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 28/07/2015.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

* 1. What programs are used for the collection of Social Media
Intelligence (Socmint)? Is the Channel system for measuring risk still
in use?

2. Do the MPS collect all of their own Socmint, or is the collection and
analysis of data occasionally conducted by a private company?  What
companies?
3. What guidelines for good practice are provided to divisions conducting
Socmint analysis?
4. What types of threats are identified using Socmint?
5. What are some of the indicators of domestic extremism and related
threats?

Further to our correspondence dated 30/10/2015 the MPS has not received a
response to our request for further information.  

Under Section 1, subsection 3 (a) & (b) we are not obliged to pursue with
this request unless we receive the further information required to locate
the requested information.

Section 1 (3) (a) & (b) provides that:

(3) Where a public authority-
(a) reasonably requires further information in order to identify and
locate the information requested, and
(b) has informed the applicant of that requirement,
the authority is not obliged to comply with subsection (1) unless it is
supplied with that further information.

As we have not received a response from you we will now consider this
request withdrawn.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Karen Fox
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

TJ Wright left an annotation ()

You may want to check out the FOI of Eric King re Social Monitoring Policies. The HMICS are also about to publish their report on the use of Social Media and the interaction of it with Facial Recognition Software, PNC & PND (also in use in E&W).

How's the study going btw? I'd love to see the finished article.

All the best

Tracy

TJ Wright left an annotation ()

Dr Denzik.

Under FOI legislation the body must either provide links to the information, direct you to the bodies who do hold the information or give reasons (stating the formal parts that correspond in the law) for rejection. Not to do so is to 'subvert' the FOI request. You should request a review.

Best regards,

Tracy

TJ Wright left an annotation ()

FYI.
Forensics & Biometrics Ethics Comittee
Baroness Williams of Trafford/Home Office
House of Lords looking into some of the data oversight/retention/ethics/authorisations view to a bill being produced.
View on Parliament TV/Online.