Trump’s protest threats cause monitoring warnings about his military convoy

President Donald Trump warns that the demonstrators in the US military procession on Saturday in Washington, DC, will meet a “very heavy force” threatening to speak and emphasize the needs of the demonstrators to take precautions on digital monitoring, and tells the advocates of privacy. freedom.

In comments from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump did not distinguish between quiet and unpopular demonstrators. “For those who want to protest, they will meet very great strength,” Trump said. (Journalist Caroline Levitt He later said“Of course, the president supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question.”) The protests are to take place in many cities across the country. Specifically excluded DC One of their plans to attract attention away from the show, which also coincides with Trump’s ninety -seventh birthday.

It is impossible to predict the certainty whether the monitoring tools – such as facial recognition to identify people in the crowd, read automatic licensing panels who follow vehicles that enter certain fields, or simulation devices for the cell site that collect information about mobile phones, or geophys orders that require technology companies to deliver information about all users at a specific time in a specific area – will be used by law enforcement to monitor. The White House, through an unprecedented email from the account of a public press office, did not answer a question about whether the administration was planning to publish monitoring technologies, but it indicated recent notes about the protests made by Trump and Levit. Capital Police He referred to the notes This week, written by Matt McCall, a special agent responsible for the Field Office for the Secret Service, who said that the agency and its partners will manage drones during the military parade.

Even if it is not clear whether other monitoring tools can be used, experts say it is wise for demonstrators to assume that they will be. The former government use of such technologies is strengthening the cause of anxiety, as well as Trump’s recent deployment of the military forces to Los Angeles In response to the protests On the immigration and customs raids (ICE), an escalation against the desires of the governor of Gavin Gavin New News. “If we are talking about a president who threatens the heavy force in Washington, he is already using heavy power in Los Angeles, it is not wise to exclude any possible surveillance uses,” says Chad Marlowe, a chief American political lawyer.

Ministry of Internal Security I admit the use of drones to monitor black black life protests Following the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in 2020. FBI (FBI) Geographical orders used in 2022 To search for information about Android users near attempts to deliberately burn at the headquarters of the Police Union in Seattle, which came amid protests on Fire on the 29 -year -old black man Yaqoub Blake. This week in Los Angeles, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that it was Flying aircraft aircraft aircraft Above the city to “monitor the safety of the officers”.

Experts say ICE’s aggressive attempts to meet the requirements of Trump’s mass deportation, and the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, raises larger warning devices. “I have been helping to lead the protests since I was in the middle school, and I have never seen a moment of close brutality, while directing the level of violence and militarization to those who exercise their first rights to the opposition amendment against the violations of President Trump from his position,” says Albert Fox, supporter and executive director of the project to excessive the process of excessive assembly in “stop”. 1984. “It really takes us to an unknown area, and I say that the full recognition that our starting point in this entire epic was horrific.”

Monitoring data can be used for revenge against the demonstrators, and Marlowe and priest say that when the law enforcement collects, we only know after the truth. Information about the whereabouts and activities of the demonstrators can be used against them, for example, to claim that they participated in crimes or aid in deportation – and can cause some monitoring tools, such as face recognition, a wrong identity, especially among people with colors.

The courts have so far prevented many measures made by the Trump administration. But Marlowe warns that even if groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union win at court later on the use of monitoring technology, some damages – including intimidating people out of appearing to protest. He says, “There is an irreversible harm.”

Protesters can take steps to reduce the risk of privacy. They include wearing a face covering the effectiveness of the face recognition technology, leaving your smartphone at home – or at least logging out of accounts in case of seizing it – and writing important phone numbers such as emergency contacts and legal assistance on your arm. ACLU maintains List of the rights of the demonstratorsAnd freedom It has a guide On how to secure your phone before protesting.

Marlowe was noticed and that these warnings may make some people digging for the exercise of the first amendment rights – but they are important to submit it anyway. “As lawyers for the public interest, our role is to give people honest information. In moments of chilling, these data may make some of those wishing to protest,” says a priest. “But the goal is not to spread fear, and I think we are also fighting a lot of wrong information as well. But it is very important, not only to prepare demonstrators by understanding what their rights are, with an understanding of what the tactics help in maintaining their privacy, but with a honest evaluation of the risks.

Because of this superficial influence, a priest says: “The protest against monitoring the protest is simply incompatible with freedom of expression. When the government gives the ability to create a file to everyone who raises their voice in opposition, it will lead to the silence of millions.”