Operational Security for Protesters
How to keep yourself from being identified at protests, and some additional tips to keep yourself and your community safe.
Note before we get started: this is not legal advice, and I can’t guarantee that even if you follow this advice perfectly, it’s going to keep you safe, but it will definitely help, and that’s what I’m here to do.
Howdy folks, your friendly neighborhood cybersecurity expert here! So, you want to protest. Great! Welcome to the Resistance! If you’re concerned about keeping yourself and your community safe, here are some things you can do.
Operational Security
Operational Security (aka “OPSEC”) is a discipline to prevent you from unintentionally revealing too much information, in this particular case, about yourself.
What we’re going for at protests is plausible deniability that you were even there. Of course, we are not going to be violent or break any existing laws, right? Right?
Repeat after me: I will not even hint at violence at protests or break any existing laws. I will behave as if I am in line at the TSA, except even better than that. I solemnly swear that I am up to good trouble, but I know the fascists want violence so they can declare martial law.
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, notice I said “existing laws.” This advice is mostly because all norms have completely flown out the window, and there’s no guarantee the crazy people in charge won’t make protesting illegal tomorrow or, worse, retroactively. This is to help protect yourself from being identified via facial recognition and other forms of surveillance, should they decide to go back in time and prosecute protesters.
Leave your phone and any electronics with GPS capability at home. This likely includes your Apple Watch or Fitbit too. Don’t worry, those steps you’re doing while marching still count, I promise!
If you absolutely must take your phone, check out this advice from Amnesty International. It’s solid. There’s a lot of information on your phone, so it's risky to take it with you. For example, if your phone recognizes the Starbucks WiFi and automatically connects, then that could place you in the area. We know that the police have set up rogue cell towers in the past to capture the information of people at protests.
Note: I don’t know how to figure out which Faraday bags actually work, but the good ones are pretty expensive. I wouldn’t rely on anything you bought from Amazon for complete protection.Don’t post pictures or videos to a social media account that can be tied back to you. Use an anonymous account. It’s important to share the protests, but not if it places a target on your back.
Wear a good quality mask! Facial recognition has gotten much better than it used to be, but it can still be fooled. N95s (or better) will protect you from facial recognition to a certain extent, chemical agents to a certain extent, and you and your community from COVID, RSV, flu, and all the other germs going around. (I just want to emphasize that if everyone at protests wears good masks, then some disabled and immune-compromised folks who would like to join actually could.)
Other things you can do to outsmart facial recognition include wearing a hat with a brim, sunglasses, or a scarf that covers your face, if you’re in a state that has already banned masks. Pretend you’re a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi and dress accordingly.
Another option is face paint designed to confuse facial recognition. The caveat here is that anything oil-based on your skin will make chemical agents even more unpleasant than they already are. Note: If you go this route, don’t post pictures of your pretty face paint on social media. Don’t even take pictures of it if your photos auto-backup to the Cloud. That defeats the purpose.
Cover up any identifying marks or tattoos.
Wear clothing that is not distinctive. A lot of people choose to wear all black. I understand blue is the color for Wednesday, 2/5, but try to pick out a plain blue shirt with no words or graphics.
If you are filming, try to only film other people from behind. Don’t give away the identities of other people who are protesting if you can help it. (The obvious exception is if someone is giving a speech.) Just don’t accidentally be a narc. Recording the police and their badge numbers is totally fine. They want you to think that’s illegal, but it isn’t.
Use cash if you’re near the protest. Using your credit or debit cards will place you in the area.
If you have a car that has GPS capability, don’t drive to the protest. Take public transportation or get a ride with someone with a less fancy car. If you’re in the ‘burbs and need to drive into the city, just park your car away from where the protest is and take public transportation the rest of the way.
Most public transportation has security cameras, so be wearing your mask before you board/enter the station.
Physical Safety
When you’re at a protest, definitely do everything you can to keep it peaceful. But be prepared just in case it turns violent. During the George Floyd protests, oftentimes, it was the police who instigated the violence. Just be prepared if it comes to that.
A few suggestions:
Wear lots of layers. Rubber bullets hurt less if you have some padding.
A good mask and eye protection will help if the police decide to use chemical agents.
Wear ear protection for flashbangs. They can be 160-180 decibels.
Loudly call out anyone in the protest who is trying to start some shit. They are not a member of the Resistance. Most likely, they’re a white supremacist, an undercover cop, or both. Once they start to be violent, they are not a part of the group.
If you are of pale complexion, protect People of the Global Majority as much as possible by getting in between them and the cops. They voted correctly. The mayo enthusiasts did not. It’s our time to step up.
Carry a first aid kit and saline (10 grams of salt per liter of water) for an eye wash. I’ve also heard a lot of people suggest milk. Milk has a protein that neutralizes capsaicin, which is what makes crowd control sprays burn.
If you’re leaving your phone at home, write down any important numbers in Sharpie on yourself. For example, a local bail fund.
If you are arrested, don’t say anything. They haven’t suspended the Constitution (yet), and you still have the right to remain silent.
If you’re out there protesting, thank you. You are important, and your voice matters. I hope that this helps keep everyone safe.
We’ll talk about secure communications next time. I believe this information should be free to everyone, so my posts will never be paywalled, but for my sanity’s sake, comments are limited to paid subscribers. If you’d like to be notified of new posts, please subscribe!