Protest photos and videos on your iPhone

Taking pictures at a protest can expose you and others. How to prepare your phone, take photos without unlocking it and protect people in your pictures.

EFF’s Surveillance Self-Defense guide on attending a protest is the most complete resource on this, and worth reading before you go. Here is how its advice applies to an iPhone and to photos in particular.

Before you leave

• Update your passcode. EFF recommends a strong password over a short PIN. Go to Settings, then Face ID & Passcode, then Change Passcode, and tap Passcode Options.
• Think about Face ID. EFF warns that in the US, using a biometric to unlock your phone may compromise Fifth Amendment protections, and it explains how to turn it off. Apple notes that your iPhone requires the passcode after a restart.
• Back up and remove what you do not need. What is not on the phone cannot be taken with it.
• Decide on location data. Set Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Location Services, then Camera to Never if you want photos without coordinates.

While you are there

You can reach the Camera from the Lock Screen without unlocking, which is useful if your phone is grabbed mid-shot. EFF also suggests that a basic digital camera can be the simplest option, though many cameras store photos unencrypted.

Before you post

1. Block out faces of protesters and bystanders. EFF warns that identifiable faces can lead to arrests or harassment.
2. Cover tattoos and unique clothing too. The face blur tool runs in your browser with no upload.
3. Remove metadata with the metadata tool. EFF also mentions taking a screenshot, with some loss of quality.

Keeping originals

You may want unedited footage for a legal team later. A vault like Backroom can hold imported originals out of your library, encrypted and behind a pattern, and Backroom’s in-app camera takes still photos only. Keep a second copy somewhere safe if the footage matters. A single phone can be lost or taken.