It's never been safe to oppose empire, but the rapid erosion of constitutional rights in the US has prompted a lot of reflection within our collective about how we operate as a public space where people are at risk for state surveillance. This isn't just a concern prompted by an accelerationist Trump administration—in recent years liberal cities have been paving the way for authoritarianism. We've seen Stop Cop City activists charged with felonies for handing out flyers in Atlanta and oppositional journalists prosecuted right here in Asheville. While these instances of "overreach" once felt exceptional, the criminalization of speech now threatens to become a pervasive norm at the exact moment that local police are dramatically expanding Asheville's surveillance infrastructure. From drones to AI-ready real-time camera networks, we face new systems designed to identify and punish members of our community.
This is a liminal space, dangerously situated between a lingering expectation of democratic rights and the reality of fascism at the door. It isn't a moment for retreat, but it calls for new conversations—some of which are overdue. To that end, we're offering a few recommendations for individuals who attend events at our space. This is motivated both by ongoing reflections on safety and the knowledge that events this weekend represent an acute surveillance risk.
Our Recommendations
💡 Use cash. Whether you're buying a book or making a donation at a fundraiser, paper money offers you the highest level of privacy.
💡 Leave your phone at home. There are lots of things you can do to harden the security of your phone (and you should do them!), but the best way to avoid being tracked is to not carry a tracking device. Learn more about phone and computer security at privacyguides.org.
💡 Dress for (privacy) success! Our bookstore requires masking to safeguard community health, but wearing a mask—especially in combination with sunglasses, a hat, or hoodie—reduces the accuracy of facial recognition software.
💡 Walk, bike, or take a bus. Even if your car is too old to have built-in GPS, your license plate is a form of ID that's trivially easy for police and other bad actors to record. Bonus: skip the parking headache!
💡 Last but not least... Know your risks. Talking to police or federal agents puts yourself and others in danger! Even seemingly mundane interactions create opportunities for additional surveillance and intelligence gathering. Learn more about navigating police interactions from the National Lawyers Guild at nlg.org/know-your-rights.
These tips are intended to address mass surveillance, not targeted surveillance. Individuals at risk of being singled out by the State need to take additional steps to protect themselves from harassment, arrest, deportation, etc. But even if you don't currently feel that mass surveillance represents a risk for you, developing intentional practices to protect your privacy will prepare you for the possibility of becoming more vulnerable in the future. Meanwhile, a security-conscious environment makes it harder to isolate and repress those who choose to take bold action in opposition to fascism!
See Also
- Statement on Police Surveillance at Our Grand Opening, August 30th, 2023
- We Are All Very Anxious, August 22nd, 2020