Breakdown of access figures for particular website: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide a breakdown of the access figures given in FOI reference 202600507227, dated 09 MARCH 2026, for the website/link (Sept 2025–Feb 2026) for https://johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/

I would like copies of information on the following:

(a) how many accesses originated from core Scottish Government devices/networks, and
(b) how many originated from the other public sector organisations sharing the network.

If a further breakdown by Scottish Government directorate (e.g. Communications, Constitution & Cabinet, Legal Directorate, Permanent Secretary’s Office, etc.) is held, please provide that as well.

Also, please provide the number of accesses to the listed website/link broken down by month (or, if held, by week) for the period 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026 for https://johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/

Lastly, please provide copies of the information that states the number of unique devices (or unique IP addresses, if that is the metric used) that accesses the site during the six-month period.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested in the text below. The questions provided appear below in the exact order provided. 

(a) how many accesses originated from core Scottish Government devices/networks

The data provided below relates to web access by Scottish Government users.

In the original FOI (202600507227), the request was for the 'number of times' a Scottish Government device accessed the website. This was recorded as a single request to a webpage or one of its components (for example images or scripts). This means one visit to a page can generate many technical ‘hits’.

For the purposes of this response, a simpler measure has been used:

• A “hit” has been treated as a single visit to the site by an individual at the same date/time (a session), rather than each individual technical request.

How the ‘hits’ were grouped:

• Activity was grouped by individual user.
• The date and time of access were then used to group together requests.
• Where the same user made multiple requests at the same time or within a short period (minutes) on the same date, these were counted as one session (one visit).
• This reflects a user opening and viewing a webpage, which generates multiple background requests at that point in time.
• If there was a clear break in activity and the user returned later, this was counted as a new session.

In simple terms, each “hit” in the figures provided represents one visit by a user at a particular point in time, rather than the many background requests needed to load a webpage.

This approach gives a clearer and more accurate picture of how often the site was actually visited. In total the website was visited on 15 occasions by Scottish Government devices users between the 1st September 2025 and the 28th of February 2026.

I have provided a snippet from the report to illustrate how the hits can be generated and how they have been  grouped. The different colours represent a grouped ‘hit’ from an individual.

December 10, 2025 11:13:26 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/screenshot_2
December 10, 2025 11:13:26 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/screenshot_2
December 10, 2025 11:13:27 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/screenshot_2
December 10, 2025 11:13:28 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/screenshot_2
January 6, 2026 9:35:29 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/screenshot_2
January 6, 2026 9:35:29 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/screenshot_2
January 6, 2026 9:35:29 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-01-15-20
January 6, 2026 9:35:39 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp- content/uploads/2023/03/screenshot_2023-03-21
January 6, 2026 9:35:40 AM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp- content/uploads/2023/07/screenshot_2023-07-20
February 3, 2026 3:47:53 PM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/2025/09/11/whatsapp-messages-between- james
February 3, 2026 3:47:53 PM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/_static/??-eJxtjNsKwjAQRH/IuBYl4oP4LWm
February 3, 2026 3:47:53 PM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/gutenberg- core/v22.4.2/bui
February 3, 2026 3:47:53 PM UTC	johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/_static/??- eJx9jlmOAjEMRC+E2zTDsHwgjoKSt

(b) how many originated from the other public sector organisations sharing the network.
We do not have the authorisation to release any Agency data, a request would need to be submitted to them to provide this.

If a further breakdown by Scottish Government directorate (e.g. Communications, Constitution & Cabinet, Legal Directorate, Permanent Secretary’s Office, etc.) is held, please provide that as well.
Director-General Corporate
Director-General Exchequer, Strategy and Performance
Director-General Health & Social Care
DIRECTOR-GENERAL EDUCATION AND JUSTICE

Also, please provide the number of accesses to the listed website/link broken down by month (or, if held, by week) for the period 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026 for https://johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/
December - 5 hits
January - 1 hit
February - 9 hits

Lastly, please provide copies of the information that states the number of unique devices (or unique IP addresses, if that is the metric used) that accesses the site during the six-month period.
This is not something that can be provided. Internal IP addresses on our network are not released into the public domain for security reasons.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.