Scanned, Flagged, Hidden: What Really Happens To Your Social Media Posts – The Glasgow Impact

Police Social Media Intelligence: AI Systems & Community Impact in Glasgow

JAOC Investigations | 27 July 2026

Every day, public social media posts are automatically gathered, sorted and analysed by powerful artificial intelligence systems used by UK police. Very few officers ever see this raw information: instead it is processed, graded and stored in restricted central databases accessible only to vetted specialists. While intended to support legitimate policing, our investigation draws on official documents, independent analysis and community accounts to show how broad monitoring can sweep up innocent people alongside those under inquiry. In Glasgow in particular, concerned residents, community leaders and campaigners report that law‑abiding citizens have been wrongly flagged, logged or associated incorrectly – eroding trust, creating a chilling effect on free speech and undermining the very cooperation needed for effective public safety. We examine the legal framework, the systems in use and the transparency gaps that remain.