Adam, a 32-year-old of Palestinian heritage, did not initially aim to expose what he calls Britain’s “broken asylum system.” Four years ago, he began working in a hotel housing asylum seekers, hoping to help them integrate. However, he became frustrated when he noticed some residents making fraudulent claims or protesting minor inconveniences, while those he considered genuine refugees were overlooked. In 2022, Adam began secretly filming inside the Manchester Airport Stanley Hotel and other asylum accommodations, posting videos online amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK. His background allowed him to blend in with Middle Eastern residents and bypass hotel security.

Adam is part of a growing group of mostly right-leaning videographers who document asylum hotels, often confronting staff and residents. Their videos, which attract millions of views on YouTube, have helped fuel widespread protests across the country. These videographers claim they provide an unfiltered perspective on the effects of rising asylum claims, which they believe traditional media neglects.

Asylum arrivals in the UK have hit record levels over the past three years, with around 110,000 people seeking refuge in the year to September, mainly from Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Roughly half are granted asylum. Adam argued that while there are genuine refugees, some exploit the system, describing cases he witnessed, including residents treating hotels as a “paid vacation” or making dubious claims about fleeing dangerous situations. Reuters could not independently verify these claims.

Critics, including Weyman Bennett of Stand Up To Racism, say the videographers provoke division and terrorize refugees, particularly children. Protests, often organized locally via social media, have sometimes attracted far-right activists. Some demonstrators express concerns about safety, especially women and children, though protests remain relatively small but tense.

The UK government has used hotels to house asylum seekers since the Covid-19 pandemic, when processing backlogs surged. While the number of hotels has been halved since 2022, roughly a third of asylum seekers are still accommodated in them, costing £2.1 billion annually. Public frustration has been amplified by years of economic austerity and cultural anxieties.

Interviews with ten videographers and analyses of dozens more videos reveal that many profit from the content, often earning from YouTube ad revenue. Combative or sensational videos tend to attract more views and income. Some, like Marti Blagborough, have quit regular jobs after achieving substantial online followings, selling merchandise and gaining prominence through anti-migrant protests.

The videographers’ coverage often aligns with right-wing political figures, like Nigel Farage, and has contributed to heightened tensions in local communities. Police describe their activities as more entertainment than journalism and say they have contributed to a record 3,000 protests over immigration-related issues.

Adam mainly films using hidden cameras embedded in “spy glasses,” capturing asylum seekers’ daily activities, such as playing table tennis or eating in well-stocked canteens. Online commenters frequently express anger over perceived preferential treatment of asylum seekers compared to vulnerable locals. While some incidents have involved criminal behavior by residents, overall crime rates remain low. Adam’s undercover filming led to his arrest three weeks after visiting one hotel. Police accused him of burglary for eating at the hotel buffet, though he denies wrongdoing. He remains on bail, restricted to his home and barred from protests within 200 meters.