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Going to a Protest? Don't Bring Your Phone Without Doing This First (www.pcmag.com)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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The right to assemble and protest is enshrined in American law, but it can still be dangerous to hit the streets to make your voice heard. Your devices are a treasure trove of information about you, and you may not always know who's collecting that data. Take a few minutes before you go to assess your digital and physical safety. Even if you have nothing to hide, you don't want to accidentally give law enforcement officials any information you didn't intend to share. Follow these tips to lock down your phone before a protest or other peaceful assembly.

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[–] 38 points 10 months ago (24 children)

Shut off and leave your phone at home, buy a pay-as-you-go to bring with you for emergency contact/coordination

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  • [–] 50 points 10 months ago (4 children)

    Shut off and leave your phone at home, buy a pay-as-you-go to bring with you for emergency contact /coordination

    Leave the pay-as-you-go phone powered off too, and only power it up if you actually have to use it. If you have to use it once, you need to get a replacement for a future event.

    I'm thinking perhaps something like Meshtastic transmitters and receivers should be used for coordination instead.

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  • [–] 9 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    Meshtastic is just as susceptible to listening and isn’t perfect at encryption or anonymity but should be another tool to consider when cellphone towers are down or otherwise unusable.

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago

    It's alright for non-critical stuff. Ok for getting help, not the best for coordinating action.

    Reticulum is an alternative network/protocol that focuses more on security and interconnection of different networks

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  • [–] 8 points 10 months ago (16 children)

    I believe there are Bluetooth network protocols that mesh that would work for messaging and not require cell service. It would be smart to organize using something like that and just use any cell phone without cell service turned on. That still gives you the ability to call 911 in case of emergencies as well.

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  • [–] 7 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    True, but if surveillance is your concern, they are monitoring Bluetooth devices too.

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  • [–] 7 points 10 months ago*

    Does that matter? If it's a device that you bought used just for this? There is no name attached to that device at that point. Buy it used on Craigslist, use it for the event, throw it away. It can be any cheap, crappy phone.

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  • [–] 12 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (12 children)

    Cell service is always turned on on a phone, even with no SIM card and the phone in airplane mode, and for most phones, even when the phone is “off”. They still ping the local towers semi regularly; they just don’t ramp up transmission power ir try to establish a full connection.

    Anyone got a list of Bluetooth devices without a cell antenna where the BT MAC is regularly scrambled?

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (11 children)

    Does it matter if that cell service isn't connected to a name?

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  • [–] 7 points 10 months ago (8 children)

    It's connected to your name when you go home

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (5 children)

    Unless you stop at a coffee shop, upload content to a secure server, ditch the SIM and power off the device.

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (4 children)

    Unless you stop at a coffee shop

    Now they also have you on camera

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  • [–] 0 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    What kind of garbage corporate coffee shops are you going to?

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago* (2 children)

    I don't go to any coffee shops, but I have eyes and can see the cameras in every shop and café (regardless of how "corporate" they are) as I pass them.

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