Government Surveillance at Protests

Patrick Gawron · May 14, 2025

Source: How Governments Spy On Protestors | WIRED - 24 min.

Surveillance methods (timestamps)

  • 0:44 → facial recognition
  • 9:24 → IMSI catchers (fake cell towers)
  • 12:17 → geofencing warrants
  • 13:40 → data brokers selling location data
  • 16:46 → license plate readers
  • 18:33 → drones
  • 23:23 → self-protection

Minimizing your footprint

  • Complete avoidance is unrealistic → goal = data minimization.
  • Leave the phone at home → only guarantee against geofencing + IMSI catchers.
  • If phone required → Faraday bag, passcode only (no FaceID/fingerprint), Signal for all comms.
  • WARNING: authorities can force biometric unlock - passcode only.
  • Mask up → defeats most facial recognition (some systems bypass masks).
  • Don’t film → footage gets scraped from social media by police software.
  • Post with caution → never real-time (reveals location), blur all faces.
  • ! Assume law enforcement is watching social posts.
  • Know your risk profile → immigration status, prior arrests, disproportionately targeted groups.

Lesson: know the tools used against you before you need to.