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ZDNET Highlights
- Smartphones enable protesters to combat disinformation and misinformation.
- However, mobile devices can also be used against you.
- Biometrics are convenient, but passwords or passcodes can provide more security
Many of us would have preferred a few slower news days in 2026, but the start of the year is particularly volatile. With widespread protests around the world, concerns have once again focused on how we can safely demonstrate in a surveillance-heavy world.
Too: Biometrics vs. passcode: What lawyers say if you’re worried about warrantless phone searches
You have a right to protest, but you also have a responsibility to stay as safe as possible while participating in events and marches. And with a smartphone in your pocket, it’s more important than ever to make sure your mobile device doesn’t pose a threat to your privacy, security, or safety.
Please note that our guide is not legal advice; It provides general tips and information that may be beneficial to you.
Smartphone: a double-edged sword
Your mobile device is a powerful tool in legitimate protests. You can use it to communicate and coordinate with other protesters, stay updated about rapidly changing plans and situations, and stay alert to any threats to your safety.
Just like tourist Harry Jackson became an “accidental journalist” by entering the world of action and vlogging protests In Nepal, smartphones can be used to document protests in real time, and the footage can be used to counter the misinformation and propaganda that have become part of our daily lives.
Also: Want real phone privacy? This $700 handset promises just that, plus a removable battery
However, these tools can also be used against you. If law enforcement is able to access your device, they can examine everything from your email to your social media, including your friends, family, posts, private messages, and more – removing the anonymity that often protects protesters.
This is not the only risk factor. Smartphones can also be tracked through Wi-Fi and cellular connections, even if you want to turn off GPS. As Noted by EFFIt’s also possible that law enforcement could use International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) catchers, also known as Stingrays, to simulate cellphone towers and trick our devices into connecting to them, potentially opening a path for communications interception.
So should I leave my smartphone at home?
Yes, the simplest, safest option – potentially – is to leave your phone at home. However, this is not advice that can be followed.
Leaving your smartphone at home means you can’t be easily tracked or forced to hand over your information, it also makes you unable to document a protest and connect with other protesters. Not having a mobile device may also mean that you are not aware of activities that may affect your physical safety.
Another option is to use a burner phone, a basic, inexpensive handheld device that isn’t tied to any of your personal apps or accounts. But if even this doesn’t appeal to you, check out our other tips below.
Top Tips to Stay Safe
1. Disable Biometrics Temporarily
Biometric access features like scanning your face or fingerprint to unlock your smartphone should be temporarily disabled. If law enforcement requests that you hand over your device and unlock it for them at a protest, the legality of this request is a gray area, as it includes what they can demand of you without a warrant.
ZDNET has discussed the issue with legal experts, and the difficulty arises from biometric access versus passwords or passcodes, and how they apply to the “Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.” While laws vary at the state and federal level, some legal experts consider passcodes to be information obtained from our brains and, therefore, tantamount to asking a person to incriminate themselves if they reveal them to the police.
Also: The best rugged phones in 2026: tested by experts
However, biometrics – such as fingerprints – may be treated differently, as you are not required to “speak” it, which could mean you could be forced to provide it without violating your rights.
There is no clear answer here, and we are not legal experts. However, for security reasons, we recommend only using passcode access when attending a protest, as it can provide you with additional security.
2. Be careful of external biometrics outside your phone
It is possible that biometric technologies are used to monitor and identify protesters, including facial recognition on street cameras or body-worn cameras. Keep this in mind when deciding what to wear to a protest.
3. Use encrypted apps
Signal It is widely recommended as a secure messaging service. It provides end-to-end encryption for your phone calls and messaging, so we recommend using this app during protests instead of sending simple text messages or messaging on social media. In signal settingsMake sure you have opted for your messages to automatically disappear after a period of time.
Too: What is signal? 7 features that make it a favorite app for private, secure messaging
4. Sign out of individual apps
It’s a hassle, true, but in the interest of minimizing risk, you should sign out of any apps that, if accessed, could be harmful if you’re using your device daily. These include social media apps and email accounts.
5. Leave your phone locked
When you’re attending a protest, keep your phone locked. If your mobile device is confiscated or stolen, you are exposing your information and communications to other parties by leaving it unlocked. You don’t even need to unlock your device when taking photos or videos, but if you’re playing a livestream, for example, your smartphone may need to be unlocked – so be aware of who’s around you.
Too: : 11 Ways to Remove or Hide Yourself from the Internet – and Protect Your Privacy
As an additional note, if you are livestreaming, please make sure that people around you consent to being filmed, as law enforcement will likely monitor this content and social media posts.
6. Consider Using Airplane Mode
If you have to bring your everyday smartphone with you, enable airplane mode whenever possible. Airplane mode takes you offline by cutting off radio signals. This isn’t ideal, but it may reduce the risk of you being tracked or identified. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to turn off Airplane Mode when you want to check your messages.
7. Be careful what you share online
There’s a difference between taking advantage of your right to protest and oversharing. You should be mindful of the photos and videos you post online, especially if they are shared on public forums and could put other protesters at risk.
Also: More ways to lock down your phone’s security
Although you may be comfortable with public images that connect you to a protest, others may not be, and so, for the sake of other attendees, be careful about what you share – and where.
