The UK government is establishing a specialized police unit, the National Internet Intelligence Investigations Team (NIII), to monitor social media for early indications of protests, public dissent, and anti-migrant rhetoric amid concerns about potential summer unrest. This initiative coincides with the introduction of new online safety laws that limit the visibility and sharing capabilities of unverified users on social platforms. Detectives from across the UK will be seconded to the NIII to enhance surveillance and intelligence gathering on digital dissent. In parallel, the government has announced a crackdown targeting gangs that promote small boat crossings to the UK via social media, introducing penalties of up to five years in prison for those advertising such activities. This measure aims to disrupt people smuggling operations by criminalizing online advertisements related to illegal migration.
UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media https://t.co/twNrhChrOa https://t.co/twNrhChrOa
Crackdown on social media ads promoting small boat crossings to the UK https://t.co/PDhax9UkpB https://t.co/DvcqnZdrdF
Major change means small boat gangs face 5 years in prison for online adverts https://t.co/kPEOePP8D6