Massive Attack refute claims that they used surveillance tech at live shows

Massive Attack took to social media on September 23 to clarify reports alleging they were scanning and storing audience data at their live shows.

In an Instagram post, the band refute claims made by "several platforms" who have allegedly spread "misinformation relating to our live show and the apparent use of live facial recognition technology".

“Between entertainment platforms and AI clonethink, nobody and nothing bothered to factcheck," they said. "‘Somewhere Media’ went nowhere near any basic reporting standard."

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The controversy followed the band’s Bristol shows, where they projected fictionalised face-detection effects and randomised databases aimed to parody the rise of surveillance worldwide.

“The irony of an artistic political satire being used to evidence the same controversial activity being used by the artistic satirist is very 2025," they said.

They went on to add: “The UK Government (and especially its police forces) are overreaching almost all other Western democracies with their use of public recognition.”

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They cited the UK police collaboration with AI firm Palantir, which is developing a new national surveillance network in the UK - information, they say, was uncovered through a freedom of information request.

Massive Attack’s response adds to a long history of political interventions. Earlier this month, the band pulled their music from Spotify in protest of its founder Daniel Ek, who invested €600 million in the military AI company Helsing.

The band revealed their withdrawal from Spotify as they also shared support for cultural boycott No Music for Genocide, where over 400 artists and labels have geo-blocked their music from Israeli territory.

Annabel Craddock is a freelance journalist, follow her on Instagram.