Videos claiming that authorities will be able to access people\u2019s private information on their phones without needing their permission through \u201cAI powered scanners\u201d from next month are false.<\/p>\n
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) told us that the claims, which have garnered over 3,000 shares across TikTok<\/a> and X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>, are \u201cincorrect and irresponsible\u201d.<\/p>\n It forms part of a recent trend of videos we have been debunking<\/a>, often originating from TikTok, which make false and alarmist claims about supposed incoming changes to rules around personal freedoms in the UK.<\/p>\n The audio in one version<\/a> of the video, which seems to resemble the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, says that \u201cfrom next month\u201d there will be a \u201csignificant change in how authorities can access your phone\u201d.<\/p>\n It says that authorities will be able to \u201creview your device at any time without needing prior notice or your permission\u201d, and anything such as your photos, private conversation and apps can be checked \u201cinstantly\u201d. These checks will be facilitated by \u201cAI powered scanners\u201d which will be placed in major cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham, with \u201cconsistent checks\u201d being carried out on mobile phones across the country.<\/p>\n The video adds that this will \u201caffect everyone\u201d including students, workers, families and businesses, and the goal is to \u201cprovide a safe environment for all\u201d.<\/p>\n Other videos<\/a> make similar claims with slightly different wording, and add that private bank details can also be accessed.<\/p>\n We contacted DSIT about these posts and a government spokesperson told us: \u201cThese claims are incorrect, irresponsible, and based on nothing more than a desire to sow mistrust and division.<\/p>\n \u201cChallenging and interrogating what we see online is increasingly important\u2014particularly when there is a distinct lack of evidence to back up bogus claims.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally the audio is overlaid onto an unrelated video clip of Mr Starmer<\/a>, in which he was speaking after a London summit in March<\/a> with European leaders to discuss support for Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s likely that this audio has been created with AI cloning techniques\u2014although we can\u2019t rule out that it has been made another way, such as with an impersonator.<\/p>\n While the video is falsely claiming that authorities will be able to review people\u2019s devices at any time, police do have the legal power to seize devices during an arrest or with a search warrant, or using stop and search powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n And police<\/a> and security services, such as MI5, can also intercept communications<\/a> when authorised by a warrant.<\/p>\n Police forces are also able to request records from service providers<\/a>, including call logs, text messages, and even location history\u2014although not their content\u2014through the Investigatory Powers Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before sharing videos like this that you see on social media, first consider if what they are claiming seems likely. If not, it\u2019s safest to check whether they come from a verifiable and trustworthy source. Our Full Fact toolkit<\/a> can help you do this.<\/p>\n