How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance

City: Keeping safe while protesting is important, especially today. If you use biometric unlocking methods, be cautious. Some phones can lock in an emergency if you press the wake button and one volume button together. This way, you will need a passcode instead of FaceID or TouchID.

Face recognition is a big tool for identifying people at protests. Consider wearing a mask and sunglasses to make it hard for cameras to recognize you. Fight for the Future’s Greer warns that just wearing a regular mask might not be enough anymore. A full-face mask or fun disguise, like a cartoon character, can help protect your identity while making protesting more fun.

Think about what you wear too. Bright clothes or logos can make you easy to spot. If you have tattoos, covering them might help if they are recognizable.

Greer also says it’s hard to hide that you were at a protest, especially if you work in sensitive jobs. If you’re in a tough spot, you might want to stay home instead of risking it.

The way you get to the protest matters, too. Driving a car can let automatic license plate readers track you. These readers not only see your license plate but can pick up words on bumper stickers or T-shirts.

Everyone going to a protest should think about the risks. In the US, protesting can now mean facing physical danger or arrest. Danacea Vo, from Cyberlixir, reminds us that things have changed quickly.

Your online presence is another thing to consider. What you post on social media before, during, or after a protest can lead to being tracked. Simply saying you go to a protest online can give away your attendance. Photos or videos taken can also show who was there.

Law enforcement can find your online activity easily. Tools like Dataminr help them to connect online posts with people in real-time. If you ever joked about violence online, this could be a problem during questioning or if arrested. This is a big concern for people in the US on visas or with uncertain immigration status, since the State Department watches social media closely.