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How Do I Prepare My Phone for a Protest?
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this post was submitted on 05 May 2024
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Privacy
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Phones are tracking devices. Do not bring your phone, not even turned off because many phones emit Bluetooth beacons and other data that can be recorded and traced.
If you bring a phone, make sure that phone has no idea who you are.
Even if the phone doesn't know who you are, the shop that sold you the phone or the SIM, or the credit card company you paid with, can know who you are. So you'd have to use cash. Even without these, your movements can be tracked through a burner phone and informed guesses made about who you are (e.g. if the phone has been at your home or with your friends).
Turning off your phone doesn't necessarily protect you from tracking either:
https://www.androidauthority.com/android-15-powered-off-api-pixel-9-track-switched-off-3425472/
Easiest, as others say, just not to carry a phone.
In some places, you cant buy a burner with cash, but you could with a gift card that was registered with cash or a prepaid debit.
I would also recommend buying a faraday bag to keep it isolated.
Edit: keep that in the faraday bag untill you need it.
If everyone followed this advice, we wouldn't have footage of abuse at protests..
Mostly true. I will not deny there are benefits to bringing your phone. They are also substantial risks. Protesting can be risky business.
That's a bunch of bull, off is still off unless you have a reputable link/source that says otherwise.
No need to spread misinformation or conspiracy theories.
Here you go:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/07/ios-15-find-my-network-can-find-your-iphone-when-it-is-powered-off/
And here:
https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-8-android-15-powered-off-finding-features-3425709/
And there's a few more about offline beacons about if you want.
Ok I stand partially corrected, it's something that's coming but is not rolled out yet and looks like it'll need the latest phones so everything slightly older is still fine
It is actively rolled out right now all the way back to iPhone 11 (2019) while the device is powered off. Version 16 is current, and the power "off" tracking was backported to older devices.
Android support is spottier. We've had powered off features one OnePlus for some time, such as the ability to trigger alarms while turned off, but more advanced features like location tracking are much more recent to Android because it usually requires specific hardware support to operate while using almost no battery. Apple has the privilege of vertical integration, so they were able to update older firmware.
I think this trend is very concerning, because with no user-servicable battery, we're essentially forced into having our phones on to some degree at all times.
You're right that this doesn't affect all devices. I'm not sure if its only a software thing or if its baked into hardware.
Eg I'd I buy some new device with this and install CalyxOS, does it still leave Bluetooth on when the device is off?
Never underestimate how far they will go to track your movements, habits, etc. It's not even about "the gubment spyin' on me". It's about how valuable that data is to corporate assholes who like to target you with customized advertising, and resell your data, etc. (And yes, as a side-effect, the police can also sometimes take advantage of this ubiquitous data capture).
We live in a time when even our stupid cars spy on us:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/podcasts/the-daily/car-gm-insurance-spying.html
It's why they push the internet of shit so hard. Nobody needs a "smart fridge" but by god, they really want us all to have one.
Well, its about both.
The drones with IMSI catchers flying over BLM protests are not for corporate gain.