A self styled ‘citizen journalist’ turns up unannounced, phone out and recording video, indignant narrative already ready. If you run, deliver, or commission social care or similar in the UK, this could feel familiar – and it’s a risk now as we import the worst of US politics. Here’s some thoughts on how to prepare: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_sources-for-responding-to-data-and-access-activity-7412930493530152960-oUax
De-escalating data ambushes in social care
A self styled ‘citizen journalist’ turns up unannounced, phone out and recording video, indignant narrative already ready.
If you run, deliver, or commission social care or similar in the UK, this could feel familiar – and it’s a risk now as we import the worst of US politics.
They demand ‘the data’ in the name of transparency. They’re not interested in how the system actually works; they want clips, outrage, and amplification. Increasingly this is wrapped up in crude, racialised stories about migrants and ‘corruption’.
The reality is that care is one of the most regulated, audited, and scrutinised parts of the public realm. Confidentiality is a legal and ethical duty under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and Care Act safeguarding duties exist to protect people from harm, including intrusive exposure. If someone wants information from a public body, there is already Freedom of Information. It is measured by design, because accuracy and proportionality matter.
Turning up with a camera and demanding records or access on the spot is just theatre – but if decent staff are wrongfooted into oversharing, arguing, or apologising – or just provide *anything* that can be amplified in bad faith – that’s exactly what they want.
What can you do?
Stay calm and professional. These individuals have no special rights beyond those of any member of the public. Never discuss identifiable people. Offer correct routes:
– subject access process for their own data
– published materials and FOI for public bodies (providers usually are not FOI bodies, all public sector bodies are)
If someone alleges abuse or neglect, take it seriously and trigger safeguarding.
The National Protective Security Authority published very good guidance on dealing with so called ‘social media auditors’ in 2023, including the CALM approach to de-escalation:
-Chat
-Assess
-Limit
-Monitor
It’s well worth reading and training against. Link in comments.
Fraud in health and social care is real, though comparatively small – around £8 to £13 million annually against a sector budget of over £30 billion. There is no evidence linking this to ethnicity. (If anything, recent scandals point to exploitation of overseas workers). The evidence base is boring, technical, and completely at odds with the sorts of stories being shared in the US.
So de-escalate. One calm spokesperson. One lawful route for information. Capture your own records. Protect staff and the people you support. Publish routine, contextual information yourself so there is less oxygen for bad faith claims. And train for this.
This is not about hiding. I have great sympathy for anyone challenging authority in really any ethical way. FOI and public records should be massively expanded and improved. People may be extremely genuine and very upset and aggrieved.
It is about doing accountability properly, without feeding propaganda loops that harm people and corrode trust – we all deserve clarity, not culture war nonsense.
Sources for responding to unannounced and citizen journalist data and access requests (in England)
To download this pdf from LinkedIn, click the document, then full screen (square). Look for the download icon, a down arrow, top right. The pdf will download to your downloads folder or other folder or open in your browser depending how you’re set up.
2026-01-02 v1
Compiled by Benjamin Taylor, Public Service Transformation Academy for general information – I am not a subject matter expert, and no liability is accepted for any errors or omissions. However, I am happy to make corrections and share other and better materials – benjamin.taylor@publicservicetransformation.org
Together, the sources below support three core messages that matter operationally:
- there is no right to demand data on the spot;
- safeguarding and dignity override performative ‘accountability’; and
- claims commonly amplified online about fraud in social care are not supported by the evidence base.
Be aware that a ‘by-the-book’ response is important – and it is also important to understand that if a person approaches you, they may be very sincere and full of upset and righteous indignation, they may be driven by manipulative intent, or some combination of both.
This means that the way that your response is taken, and used, can be as important as the facts of the matter. So it is critical to provide team members with training and response contacts to be able to deal with what can be a complex and challenging situation.
National security, de-escalation, and hostile filming
National Protective Security Authority guidance on ‘social media auditors’ and hostile reconnaissance.
This is the most directly relevant operational guidance for unannounced filming, intimidation, and provocation, including the CALM approach to de escalation.
Overview
https://www.npsa.gov.uk/specialised-guidance/hostile-reconnaissance/social-media-auditors
Data protection, confidentiality, and personal data
Information Commissioner’s Office overview of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, including lawful bases and confidentiality duties in health and social care.
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/
ICO guide to subject access requests. This is the correct route when someone demands ‘their data’.
ICO transparency and fair processing in health and social care. Useful for explaining what can and cannot be said publicly.
ICO guidance on right of access for social work and care records. Highly relevant where people demand to see files relating to others.
Freedom of information and public accountability
ICO guidance on Freedom of Information. Clarifies scope, exemptions, and why requests must be handled formally and in writing.
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/foi/
Gov.uk guide on how to make an FOI request. Useful as a neutral signpost when people insist on ‘seeing the data’.
https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request
WhatDoTheyKnow – platform for making and viewing Freedom of Information requests to UK public authorities
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/
Safeguarding, dignity, and regulation
Care Act 2014 statutory guidance on safeguarding adults. Sets the duty to act on allegations without public disclosure or performance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance
Social Care Institute for Excellence overview of adult safeguarding principles and practice. https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/
Care Quality Commission guidance on privacy and dignity in adult social care. Directly relevant when filming or intrusive questioning occurs.
https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/adult-social-care/privacy-dignity
CQC role and powers, including how concerns should properly be raised.
https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job
Fraud and error context
NHS Counter Fraud Authority reports and estimates on fraud in health and care. This is the primary evidence base and consistently shows fraud concentrated in procurement, payroll, and organised system abuse, not frontline care delivery or ethnicity.
Government Counter Fraud Function and National Fraud Initiative. Provides cross public sector context and comparative risk.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-counter-fraud-function
National Audit Office work on fraud and error across public services.
chosen path 