The Dutch news portal AD.nl published an article revealing that Leiden University has employed ‘undercover observers’ on its campus through an external agency. According to the university, this measure was implemented in response to pressure from the government and the municipality of The Hague. The primary role of these ‘undercover observers’ is to monitor and report on individuals who are not affiliated with the university.
However, AD.nl indicated that Leiden University students are monitored by these spies who photograph, listen to, and inspect their bags without consent. Students of color have been a primary target of this surveillance.
The Haagse Stadpartij has questioned the Hague municipality about the lack of transparency regarding the government agencies involved, the handling of collected student data, and the duration of this surveillance. The full written questions are available here and on their Instagram post.