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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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[–] 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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