I am sure you all did this, but just in case - if you go to a protest; turn off your location services. Better to not bring your phone at all and use a cheap disposable or something...
At this point, the idiots at the capitol are mainly getting arrested because they had their location services on lmao.
Edit. I’m being told that my boomer tier understanding of phones is problematic. Read below plz.
and don't ever have it within a mile of your real phone. they do graph these things. it's not hard to draw the links. wrap the burner in foil when you start looking for where to dispose of it. do not let it near your actual phone or acquaintances AFTER the fact either.
turn the phone off and remove the battery and then wrap it in foil
not possible on all modern phones. wrapping in a napkin then foil so it doesn't conduct in the case of outer-shell-antennae models is good practice i suppose. but its a thing that can be done anything hot dogs are purchased.
yeah if we're talking serious protests/actions, you want to be as safe as possible. yes bring a watch, and go with a small affinity group of people you really trust. all of you should be covering up reasonably well (there'll be a great excuse to wear a big mask for a long time), and don't wear identifiable clothing. have a contact back at home that can lie to your boss/feed the meow if something should happen to any of you, and memorize their number. at the very least one of you should have basic first aid.
Btw your plan should include writing your birthday and a contact phone number in big clear letters in permanent ink on your arm directly to your skin.
This way no matter what happens you can be found and you can contact someone or someone can contact someone for you. In jail with a concussion? You have the 2 pieces of info on your arm that you'll need to contact someone to help get you out.
Also it's okay to be the person who is the contact and it's okay to not go to a protest to be that person. As often as I attend actions I also stay home or nearby with my car to evacuate, provide supplies, etc for comrades who need it. Support and logistics are praxis too. If everyone is arrested nobody is there to help bail folks out. It's okay to be that guy too
Just don't take your phone to a protest at all. Even if location is off cops could be using a stingray (portable fake cell phone tower) to capture the information of everyone there. Also if you're going to do illegal shit mask up and only wear clothes you bought with physical cash. The feds tracked someone down due to an Etsy purchase of a shirt last year during the BLM protests.
Additionally, cover any tattoos or anything else unique about you.
IIRC a woman who threw a molotov at a cop car in NYC(?) last year was identified because of that.Additionally, cover any tattoos or anything else unique about you.
The fact that one has no tattoos can also help identify you, or at least to narrow things down. Just cover up, frankly.
I really want tattoos someday but I'm also paranoid and try and live as grey man as possible
If you want to have tattoos, get fucking tattoos, don't let the oppressive state dictate how you live your life.
As I said below if you're going to a protest or something just wear something that fits black bloc principles and you're all good.
If you want tattoos and are worried about that, get tattoos that could be easily covered up by wearing a long sleeve shirt.
Another fun fact. An army officer has resigned after helping lead the riots. Her job in the army you ask? PSYOPs.
https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/kv0y87/police_let_most_capitol_rioters_walk_away_but/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb
It’s WaPo fair warning.
It was also posted here https://m.startribune.com/army-investigating-officer-who-led-group-to-washington-rally/600009161/
I think I fixed it now it's supposed to be another thinking emote
Here’s a fun story: I thought I turned off WiFi/etc on my cell phone at a protest in STL, to stay unconnected.
When I pulled it out to grab a photo, I noticed that the WiFi had re-activated against my wishes (att smart WiFi or something) and the phone had automatically connected to a network called AUSA outside the federal courthouse, in the middle of a park, with full bars.
Anyway the moral of this story is leave your phone at home if you don’t need it. Getting footage is useful but you can always bring a camera.
The "WiFi Off" switch on iPhones was changed so that it "disconnects from nearby WiFi hotspots until tomorrow". The WiFi option in settings supposedly turns WiFi off completely, but I'm not sure about that either.
I think there are some exceptions to airplane mode, too.
Another tip I'll throw in with everyone elses is that your first protest isn't the place to start networking and sharing your personal information with a bunch of people, and you shouldn't go alone.
a gathering of two or more liberals is technically called a brunch of liberals
I have a little rhyme I use to remember:
When participating in the sacking of Rome, your cellular device should be on and at home.
Invest in a Nokia 3310. Can double as a reusable brick/self defense weapon/offensive weapon and immobilizer.
They can still track your phone, and do, by triangulating its position from cell towers. That's how 911 knows your location even on cell.
:ypg-brace: who said to put a sim in there.
But seriously: I know position can be triangulated by cell towers the question is how precise it is and what it actually proves. So you were in the vicinity of a protest? So what? Now they have to prove you did something. This assumes rule of law will be followed which like lol. If they want to get you they'll get you.
It's precise enough, it proves enough. You'll be known to be in the vicinity of a protest for the duration of the protest likely, and in the wake of this insurrection they will be painting every left protest with the same brush, and riding on the public support for taking down "extremists". I expect it to get much harder in the near future.
You don't need a sim to connect to cell towers. https://www.tracephonenumber.in/how-to/emergency-calls-without-sim-card/
Thoughts about getting cheap radios for this purpose, such as the ubiquitous $28 baofeng for networking?
That is true but, A. who cares, (so long as you stay away from like, medical pager bands) and B. there are several frequencies you can legally transmit on. I'm sure fellow protesters would help you program it on scene if this became a common thing.
when the hardware's a black box we have no way of knowing if taking the battery out is even good enough.
just leave the phone at home depending on the sensitivity of the action. pre-arranged rendevous, etc.
Is it a good idea to have your friend go do stuff during the protest, like go shopping, take a walk in the park, etc. Carrying your phone? And if you REALLY trust this friend and have enough money, to spend money on stuff using your credit/debit card on cheap stuff to give yourself a false paper trail?
