Companies in the City of London are warned to be aware of cyber activism, according to new guidance by G4S Security Services (UK).
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) has increased restrictions on traditional demonstrations, driving activists to direct action protests launched online. The company warns companies to beware of an increase in denial of service attacks (disabling a computer network by overloading it with useless traffic), the publishing of alternative annual reports online and campaigns of telephone disruption.
The warning over online activism comes as figures provided by the City of London Police, under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the number of traditional demonstrations, industrial disputes, pickets and protest marches policed by the force has fallen from 117 in 2004, to 74 in 2005 and 64 last year.
G4S has identified a trend for a growing number of activist demonstrations targeted at businesses located in the City to be organised through social websites such as Facebook and Bebo. However, the open nature of these forums means they are likely to remain the domain of the ‘arm chair activist’ protesting on generic issues rather than providing a forum for hardcore activists as they can be infiltrated easily by the police and security services.
Some protestors are gathering support for non-violent direct action via Facebook. The organisers of the ‘Free Burma March’ used Facebook to attract over supporters to their direct action protest. Protestors using social networking sites to organise demonstrations may be unaware of the tight restrictions introduced by the SOCPA and may find themselves liable for prosecution, warns G4S.
Jim Batty, Director of Risk Consultancy, G4S Security Services (UK) said: “With the ongoing risk from international terrorist groups, there is a concern that some companies are not as fully prepared for the ongoing, and evolving threats now posed by UK-based activist groups. It is important firms are not lulled into a false sense of security by the decrease in the more traditional style protests of picket lines and banner waving.
“While 99 per cent of protestors are peaceful, there is sometimes a more extremist element out to cause trouble. We have seen a number of companies and their employees targeted directly by activist groups as part of a sustained, and in a number of cases, aggressive campaign.”
Despite a decrease in the number of physical protests, the security firm warns that threats to companies from activist groups have not diminished. It says that new tactics being used by activist groups have diverged into two main areas:
1) Mainstream corporate publicity campaigns against organisations through the media and internet
Publication of ‘alternative’ annual reports
Setting up spoof company websites with a similar name
Using blogs and online social forums such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace to attack a business’ reputation
Send high volumes of ‘Spam’ email to companies
2) Underground campaigns, often directed against individuals. These include:
Personal details of target organisation published on internet
False business requests (bookings, reservations, orders etc) to cause business interuption and loss of revenue
Denial of service attack – damage to company server
Stalking and intimidating company officials and their families
Damaging personal property of company personnel
G4S believes that advances in the resources and legislative powers given to law enforcement agencies to track anti-globalisation protestors and prosecute animal rights protesters has succeeded in weakening the leadership of certain extremist groups. However, it says that these counter-measures have led to radical splinter groups forming to carry out more covert operations.
What they say
Batty adds: “We believe that extremist groups, particularly animal rights activists, will continue to present a threat to any company either directly or indirectly involved with primary targets such as research laboratories or pharmaceutical companies. This threat may well be harder to counter as autonomous groups carry out uncoordinated attacks, focusing their campaigns on the most vulnerable to encourage capitulation to their demands and strengthen the resolve of the protest movement.”
Senior corporate figures are becoming more aware of the danger of personal details being released on the internet and it is believed that a record 10,447 company directors have asked for their personal details to be kept secret from company documents filed with Companies House, some in direct response to concerns from activist groups.
G4S is urging companies to ensure that their systems to mitigate against the risks faced from activist groups are up-to-date.
About G4S Security Services (UK)
G4S Security Services (UK) employs 15,500 people throughout the UK, working with a range of public sector and commercial clients. The organisation provides security services to over 5,000 customers across a range of sectors; examples include retail, government, facilities management, financial, events and transport.G4S Security Services (UK) adds that it manages the security for 41 of FTSE 100 companies. G4S Security Services (UK) was formed from the merger between Securicor plc and Group 4 Falck A/S’s security businesses, which was completed in July 2004. For further information on G4S Security Services (UK) visit:
