Digital Security Checklists for Activists
Plain language steps for digital security. Because protecting yourself helps keep your whole community safer.
Everyone should do these
All 3 checklistsProtests & travel
All 5 checklistsProtect yourself from being targeted
All 4 checklistsOrganizing others
All 2 checklistsSimple guides to keep us more safe
We built this because digital security shouldn't be overwhelming. We take a harm reduction approach: start where you are and do what you can.
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Common Misconceptions
When we start talking about digital security, we often hear these concerns. We think there's more to the story.
The more engaged you are in any social movement work, the more your data can be used to map networks of activists. The best time to start protecting yourself is before you're as deeply involved.
While data collection is widespread, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect future activities.
Mass surveillance affects everyone. Your data can be used to profile communities, predict protests, or target those you care about. Protecting your communications helps protect all of us.
Latest Surveillance News
View all newsICE Planning $100 Million ‘Nightmare’ Domestic Spy Program - The American Prospect• The American Prospect
Feds Got Warrants to Use Fake Cell Towers to Hunt Down Don Lemon’s Producer• WIRED
Feds Charged Activists Just Before Major Anti-ICE Protest in a Tiny Vermont Town• The Intercept
Tools we built
See all toolsFree tools we made to go along with the checklists, for the steps that are hard to finish on your own.
Recent Site Updates
View all updatesUpdated the direct action guide, now called Prepare for an Arrestable Action, to make clear it's for lower-risk civil disobedience. It adds a crew agreement that anyone risking arrest hands their phone to a support person.
French translation: The site is now available in French. Use the language switcher in the header or see the French version here.
Français : Le site est maintenant disponible en français. Utilise le sélecteur de langue dans l'en-tête ou consulte le site en français.
Italian translation: The site is now available in Italian. Use the language switcher in the header or see the Italian version here.
Italiano: Il sito è ora disponibile in italiano. Usa il selettore della lingua nell'intestazione o consulta il sito in italiano.
Updated the WhatsApp checklist for Restricted chat, which replaces Advanced Chat Privacy and helps keep AI agents out of sensitive chats, and for usernames, which can hide your phone number from people in your groups.
Added ad blocking to the spyware checklist after Citizen Lab found spyware being delivered through ordinary online ads, with no click needed.