Back in June 2020, when this article was first written, people were taking to the streets to organize for justice and protest against systemic racism and police brutality. There have been several other flashpoints for protests since then (for example, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade), but the recent activities of ICE, especially in Los Angeles, have now resulted in huge, nationwide demonstrations. As of this writing, the Trump administration has reacted by deploying the national guard and military forces, making conflict even more likely.
Because of this escalation, it is possible that, if you’re a participant, you may find yourself arrested or otherwise detained. In that case, one of the first things that will be confiscated is likely to be your phone and / or smartwatch – both of which offer access to a great deal of your personal data. So it has become more important than ever to guard that data if there is a chance of confrontation or arrest.
The following are a number of tips on how to at least somewhat secure your data when carrying a phone. (If you also have a smartwatch, you may want to simply leave that home.)
Be aware
If you’re attending or even just w …