University agreed to monitor students for arms company

A Scottish university agreed to requests to monitor its students on behalf of an arms company, reports Gregor Young for The National.

Emails obtained under freedom of information laws and reported by The Herald and Liberty Investigates reveal how Heriot-Watt University staff agreed to implement a range of security measures requested by defence firm Raytheon UK ahead of a campus careers fair. These included monitoring student chat groups and discussion forums for talk of any planned protest, monitoring CCTV for signs of groups gathering, and having an “enhanced” physical presence on the day to “help safeguard the Raytheon employees attending”.

The requests were being made of the university’s safeguarding team, first aid and mental health first aid trained campus officers. In response, a Heriot-Watt University staff member said they would implement the additional security measures.
Full report on The National site