How to protect your phone privacy at protests: disable biometrics and other tips

ZDNET published a guide for people attending protests that recommends temporarily disabling phone biometrics and taking other steps to protect privacy and safety while demonstrating. The piece says smartphones are a powerful tool for communication, coordination and documenting events, but cautions they can also be used against protesters.

If law enforcement can access a device, they may review email, social media, messages and contacts; devices are also trackable via Wi‑Fi and cellular connections, and, as noted by the EFF, IMSI catchers (so‑called Stingrays) can simulate cell towers and potentially intercept communications.

ZDNET notes that leaving a phone at home is the simplest privacy option but carries trade‑offs—loss of situational awareness and the ability to document events—and suggests burner phones as an alternative. The guide also states it is not legal advice and that laws vary at state and federal levels.

Key Topics

Tech, Smartphones, Biometrics, Signal, Imsi Catchers, Burner Phones