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The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) has increased restrictions on traditional demonstrations, driving activists to direct action protests launched online.

G4S Security Services (UK) warns firms to beware of an increase in denial of service attacks which can disable 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 just 64 last year.

Social websites 

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.

It added that the open nature of these forums means that they are likely to remain the domain of the ‘arm chair activist’ protesting on generic issues, however, 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 other 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.

UK-based activist groups 

Jim Batty, Director of G4S’s Security and Risk Consultancy, G4S Security Services (UK) says that there is a concern that the ongoing risk from international terrorist groups means that some companies are not as fully prepared for the ongoing and evolving threats now posed by UK-based activist groups.

He warns that 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,” Batty adds.

Business interruption 

G4S warns that threats to companies from activist groups have not diminished, despite the decrease in the number of physical protests.

It says that new tactics being used by activist groups have diverged into two principle 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 interruption 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 extremists has succeeded in weakening the leadership of certain extremist groups.

It says, however, that these counter-measures have led to radical splinter groups forming to carry-out more covert operations.

Personal details released on the Internet 

Batty believes 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.

He says that 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.

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Related links

• G4S Security Services (UK)