Shining Light on the Hidden: Counter-Surveillance in Activism

Every day seems to bring headlines of groups planning and rallying for or against public policies. Organizing texts, social media groups - these are all tools of the organizers but what about deploying counter surveillance technology to protect their plans? Surveillance has long been a tool of police and investigators trying to keep first amendement gathering peaceful. Much of it is hidden—plainclothes officers blending into crowds, unmarked vehicles lingering nearby, or covert devices tucked into street infrastructure. Community organizers can take a page from that playbook to keep their own members safe and peaceful. For activists, learning how to spot and track hidden surveillance is critical. These counter-surveillance practices don’t just protect individuals; they help safeguard the democratic right to dissent. Security dealers should recognize that activists and organizers represent another market, perhaps untapped, to attract as customers.

How To Spot Hidden Surveillance At Your Day of Action

Plainclothes Observers Look for individuals who appear repeatedly at protests without clear affiliation, linger near organizing spaces, or display subtle indicators—like tactical footwear, communication earpieces, or oversized bags—that feel out of place.

Unmarked Vehicles: Unmarked vans, SUVs, or sedans parked near gathering spots for long periods can signal mobile monitoring. Repeated sightings of the same vehicle across different events are especially telling. Antennas, cameras, or odd modifications on dashboards or rooftops may be giveaways.

Hidden Cameras & Mics: Strange or newly installed devices on light poles, traffic signs, or utility boxes may be covert cameras. Inside meeting spaces, unfamiliar smoke detectors or electrical boxes that look bulkier than expected can be suspicious. Sometimes, unexplained interference on calls or rapid phone battery drain suggests hidden monitoring.

Tools for Counter-Surveillance

Collective Awareness: Awareness is a shared skill. Groups that rotate observers, compare notes across events, and build knowledge of what “normal” looks like in a given space are better equipped to spot irregularities.

Document & Verify with Cameras and Recorders: Photos, videos, and pattern logging help confirm suspicions. Cataloging sightings over time turns hunches into evidence. Sharing within trusted networks ensures false alarms don’t spread unchecked. Using body worn cameras and recorders creates a record that can be cross referenced. While most evidence captured this way can't be considered evidence in court, it can serve as a historical reference to confirm or disprove previous suspected disruption to plans.

RF Detectors: One increasingly useful tool is the RF (radio frequency) detector. These handheld devices sense wireless transmissions from covert microphones, GPS trackers, or Wi-Fi-enabled cameras. By sweeping meeting spaces or staging areas, activists can identify unusual signals that might indicate hidden devices. RF detectors aren’t perfect—many surveillance tools don’t transmit, and urban environments full of wireless activity can create false positives. But combined with visual inspection and group awareness, they give activists a way to turn the invisible into something tangible.

Traditionally security and survaillance dealers may be wary of courting community organizers, and the feeling may be mutual on the part of the activists. But dealers leave sales on the table when they focus only on the law enforcement side of activism. And after all . . . ultimately both sides want a safe, free world.