Internet shutdowns can take various forms, such as platform-specific blockages, mobile data shutdowns, bandwidth throttling, or total internet blackouts, all of which have been weaponized in the context of Bangladesh over the past few weeks. As the unrest continues and more shutdowns become a looming threat, here are some measures that can help you prepare so that you can continue critical communications safely. As a reminder, documenting human rights violations and maintaining personal security do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Relying on Encrypted Communications
At a time of heightened security threats, relying on end-to-end encrypted messaging apps is of utmost priority when communicating online (or offline). While WhatsApp and Telegram are popular choices, Signal provides users the option to prevent non-contacts from finding their accounts via phone numbers. It also gives an option to disguise the app’s icon on the phone to look like an average weather or news app. It is good practice to use the ‘disappearing messages’ functionality when communicating sensitive information because this automatically erases messages on both ends of a conversation. These apps may continue to be used during a partial internet shutdown by means of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) or WARP. One safe option for the latter is the 1.1.1.1 app by Cloudflare, which allows users to protect themselves from spying or surveillance by their internet service providers (ISP) by securely and privately sending traffic from their devices to Cloudflare’s global network.
However, in the event of another complete internet shutdown, there are offline end-to-end encrypted messengers – such as Briar and Bridgefy – that allow users to communicate using Bluetooth. These apps may be limited in terms of the distances between which users can communicate; however, within mass gatherings or in areas where internet access and speed is throttled, they can be extremely valuable for communicating emergency situations safely. In addition, they enable the sharing of media and files within an encrypted offline channel. As a precaution, it is good to have more than one such app installed to contact others.
Encrypting Your Media Storage
In a high-risk and fast evolving environment, authorities may conduct phone searches and seize devices, or they can also be lost. Is it therefore important to secure sensitive media and files present in one’s devices. There are specialized documentation apps such as Tella or Eyewitness to Atrocities, which store documentation in separate encrypted galleries and make content accessible only within the app. This makes data harder to find if devices are searched. These apps allow recorded photos and videos to be embedded and saved with the metadata that is needed to prove their authenticity in a court of law.
For Android phones, the international human rights non-profit WITNESS recommends securing device galleries by placing an empty file named “.nomedia” inside any folder through the file manager app to prevent media in a folder from appearing in the device gallery. Folders can also be hidden by adding a “.” before the name in the file manager.
Securing Your Devices
If possible, one should keep the device used for documentation purposes separate from one’s personal devices. Keeping real, personal, or private and sensitive information off a device can help protect an individual from being directly vulnerable to attacks or police detention. There are tools such as Nova Launcher that can also help with device security by changing home screens or the names and icons of sensitive apps and folders on devices, similar to Signal’s functionality. This makes it difficult for authorities to immediately recognize which apps are on a device.
Remember to Back Up Your Data
During an internet shutdown, if it is not possible to share evidence of human rights violations to news media or upload on social networks straightaway, it is useful to have backup storage in the form of external storage devices such as USB drives at hand. This is also a safety precaution to keep devices clean of sensitive documents that may be shared when connectivity is restored.
