Police officers are now monitoring TikTok in their efforts to identify far-right demonstrators who are livestreaming their illegal activities. The platform’s Live feature has become a significant source for observing this summer’s riots, with live streams attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers from cities like Stoke, Leeds, Hull, and Nottingham.
These streams, sometimes running for hours, often feature individuals directly involved in the riots. Many broadcasts display faces engaged in criminal acts such as looting or arson. These videos are frequently posted by users whose identities can be traced back to real-world personas.
A police source explained: “Every force will have analysts monitoring social media, including TikTok, for evidence-gathering purposes. Regional organized crime units are also involved, focusing on more serious offenders, including inciters and senior organizers.”
Videos are frequently recorded and broadcast by both participants in the riots and those observing. For instance, a riot in Middlesbrough on Sunday was streamed simultaneously by at least six different TikTok accounts. The footage captured scenes of cars being set ablaze, bricks thrown through windows, and shops being looted.
One livestream had 14,000 viewers watching as people looted an Iceland supermarket in Teesside. Another Middlesbrough stream, with 4,000 viewers, showed individuals stopping drivers to ask their race before allowing them to pass, while an off-camera voice taunted riot police nearby.
Unlike the 2011 riots when smartphone ownership was lower and livestreaming technology was less advanced, the current riots benefit from widespread use of smartphones and enhanced mobile network capabilities. This technological advancement allows real-time broadcasting of potentially criminal activities.
TikTok’s Live feature is particularly suited for this type of coverage due to its user-friendliness and the app’s popularity. Streams of riots can quickly attract large audiences as TikTok’s algorithm promotes engaging content, enabling users to amass viewers comparable to traditional news outlets, even without a significant follower base.
One challenge for police is that TikTok streams disappear from public view once the user ends the broadcast. However, copies of these streams are retained on TikTok’s servers for up to 90 days, making them accessible for evidence collection.
In addition to TikTok footage, police are also using CCTV, bodycam footage, drone surveillance, and videos from other online platforms to gather evidence. Retrospective facial recognition technology is also employed to identify participants and organizers.
