RT @bek_sews_things
On #itch I have my #buddysystem d6 game "Silly Names and Spandex!" about playing a team of campy, four-color superheroes. Usually $5, now $3. I'm still adding community copies during the sale. https://bekandrew.itch.io/silly-names-and-spandex

I vote we need season 3 of #buddysystem. https://youtu.be/_6umO1E3C44

Today is a great day to help unhoused folks stay warm and healthy!

🧤🧣🧥🧦
🛀🏻🛌🎒🧼

#FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance #FinalFantasy #RetroGames #GBA #FFTA #ClanMakhnovia #Ritz #Marche #UnhousedOutreach #HousingNotCriminalization #HousingIsTheAnswer #ColdWeatherAlert #SnowPDX #PNWSnow #SnowDay #HomelessOutreach #HouselessOutreach #MutualAid #HolidaySpirit #Friendship #BuddySystem #WeKeepUsSafe #AnarchyUnitySolidarity #PLUR

reminder to keep yr stuff locked up and yr buddies bloc'd up, never the other way around.🥷🏻🏴

images read,

Assumptions

Isa is not worried about arrest because at similar actions in the past, when a large crowd of people who do not appear to be classically antifa block the streets, police only kettle them or drag them out of the way before rerouting the fascists. She does not think that if she was arrested they would look through her phone at all, legally or illegally. She is also not concerned about her phone's location data.

Countermeasures

Isa has taken no countermeasures against her location data being collected or phone being confiscated.

Analysis

At mass actions, police may use IMSI catchers to see who has attended these protests so they can build profiles. This location data may be used to prosecute people for rioting even if the charges don't lead to conviction.

If Isa is arrested, which still may happen if the blockades are too small or she's one of the unlucky ones to get snatched while they form on the streets, she may have her phone searched. From this, police may learn of her social network or the activities of her more radial friends. This can endanger them more than her.

Recommendations

Even though Isa does not anticipate arrest, she should be more cautious with her phone. She could agree to meet with friends at a fixed place and time before the demo so that they can avoid bringing their phones at all, or if they really want to have real-time information, only one person in her group should bring a phone. Being careful with her phone can protect her radical friends who might engage in more militant means of resistance to the fascists.

However, the chances of any of these things happening is low, and the perceived benefit of bringing a phone is high. That makes this a case where it's "fine" for Isa to bring her phone... until suddenly it isn't.

Making a Plan

We cannot pretend to know your threat model, and we cannot address every bit of nuance for every region and situation. What we can do is list some guidelines that are generally applicable. When reading these, you need to consider what is practical. What can you actually do? And what will people in your social circle do? Your new plan doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be better than whatever you're doing now.

If this means making compromises on security so you can continue to organize, you may have do that. But at the same time, don't let others' poor security endanger you. Find a balance.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but are some ways to develop personal OpSec and group security culture:

• Use a smart phone as they are more secure against most threats activists face than simple phones.

• Do not bring your phone to activities that might interest police, and in particular protests that might be rowdy.

• Prefer E2EE encrypted apps for communication, enable disappearing messages, and avoid email.
Use a password to unlock your phone, and enable device encryption. Disable fingerprint unlock on your phone before going to bed or leaving it unattended.

• Regularly back up photos and other data to an encrypted drive and remove them from your phone.
Delete old data: DMs, group chat, emails, calendar events, etc.
Leave group chats where you do not need to be present, and remove. inactive members from group chats.

• Practice leaving your phone at home or powering it off when running errands or for small actions to habituate yourself to its absence. Start all meetings by establishing whether or not electronics are permitted. If not, power them off, collect them, and move them out of range of your conversation.

And most importantly:

Do not send messages or make voice calls about highly sensitive matters. Do not photograph or film incriminating things. Do not create evidence that can be used against you or others.

#opsec #anarchy #organize #assemble #formlikevoltron #bewater #buddysystem