Protest Safely

There are important measures that you should take to protect yourself digitally if you go out to protest.


This guide is primarily for iPhone users. Some of these recommendations may also be adaptable for other smartphones.


Bring Your Phone

It's important that you bring your phone with you so that you can communicate with trusted contacts in the event of an emergency.


Configure Connectivity Settings

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Disable Airplane Mode
  3. Select Cellular
  4. Enable Cellular Data

Some other resources might advise enabling Airplane Mode or disabling Cellular Data. That's bad advice; doing so would prevent you from communicating with trusted contacts in the event of an emergency. There are other, better measures to take to limit unwanted access to sensitive information.


Configure Authentication Settings

Touch ID
Face ID
  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Select Touch ID & Passcode
  3. Enter your passcode
  4. Enable iPhone Unlock
  5. Disable Today View
  6. Disable Notification Center
  7. Disable Control Center
  8. Enable Siri
  9. Disable Reply with Message
  10. Disable Return Missed Calls
  11. Disable USB Accessories
  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Select Face ID & Passcode
  3. Enter your passcode
  4. Enable iPhone Unlock
  5. Enable Require Attention for Face ID
  6. Enable Attention Aware Features
  7. Disable Today View
  8. Disable Notification Center
  9. Disable Control Center
  10. Enable Siri
  11. Disable Reply with Message
  12. Disable Return Missed Calls
  13. Disable USB Accessories

If you feel that you're in a dangerous situation, then simultaneously hold down the side button and one of the volume buttons until you see a menu appear. Tap Cancel. Doing so will temporarily disable Touch ID.

If you feel that you're in a dangerous situation, then simultaneously hold down the side button and one of the volume buttons until you see a menu appear. Tap Cancel. Doing so will temporarily disable Face ID.

Some other resources might advise disabling Touch ID or Face ID. That's bad advice; doing so would prevent you from quickly unlocking your phone to communicate with trusted contacts in the event of an emergency. Instead, follow the above instructions to disable temporarily Touch ID or Face ID in the moment if you need to do so.


Configure Location Sharing

  1. Ensure that you are signed in to iCloud
  2. Open the Find My app
  3. Select the People tab
  4. Tap Share My Location
  5. Select a trusted contact
  6. Tap Send
  7. Select Share Indefinitely

Use Encrypted Messaging Apps

Most messaging apps are not end-to-end encrypted, meaning that the app developer, law-enforcement officers, malicious actors, and other parties can potentially see the contents of your messages. With end-to-end encryption, it's mathematically impossible for anyone besides you and the people whom you're messaging to see the contents of your messages. Try to use end-to-end encryption at all times, especially when communicating sensitive information.

In the default Messages app on iPhone, blue "bubbles" are end-to-end encrypted, while green "bubbles" aren't. If one of your contacts uses green "bubbles", then convince them to switch to the Signal app. All messages sent with Signal are end-to-end encrypted, and the app has been thoroughly vetted by cybersecurity experts.


We do not condone rioting or looting. Doing so is counterproductive. Please refrain from violence!


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