Pro-Palestinian demonstrators who plan to “shut down” the Democratic National Convention this week are taking cues from New York City, where protests on college campuses were orchestrated with the help of an encrypted messaging network.

Over the spring, student groups and pro-Palestinian organizations used the app Telegram to distribute how-to manuals on occupying buildings and other rally tactics, provide real-time updates on police movements and, in some cases, share explicitly pro-Hamas content.

And there are signs protesters are using the same tactics to plan massive demonstrations at the convention, where organizers hope to pressure Vice President Kamala Harris to take a harder stance against the Israeli government and its military campaign in Gaza.

“Make it great like ‘68,” one group posted to Telegram, referencing large Vietnam War protests at the DNC that year. “Shut down the DNC for Gaza!”

The post, which encouraged demonstrators to show up outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20, was circulated on Resistance News Network, an organization on the radar of experts on extremism.

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
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      24 days ago

      For activism things like this, Briar is actually amazing. In case of internet shutdown it will continue to work over local WLAN and bluetooth with mesh functionality. With enough users in a protest, you can create a local isolated network completely offline. Also if you ever take part in something where you expect to be arrested but need a phone, set up a panic button system to quickly wipe your phone.

        • m-p{3}A
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          24 days ago

          The only problem is that there isn’t an iOS version, which can be a problem for some. But yeah, good luck to the autorities to block that.

          And IMO if you’re protesting, you may want to have a cheap Android phone you’re willing to lose, with only the apps and data that you need (ie: F-Droid, Briar, Organic Maps, Ripple, Cryptomator with encrypted photo backup to the cloud). If the autorities takes it from you it will be of limited value to them, and you’ll have your main phone safe at home.

      • HarriPotero@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        Was just about to chime in with the same. I haven’t had any contacts on briar, but plenty on meshtastic. Both serve the same purpose. Meshtastic needs a bit of extra hardware but has great range, briar works on your phone as-is.

    • breadsmasher@lemmy.world
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      24 days ago

      Either way, E2EE fails once someone has their device seized and are compelled to give over access to said device. All well and good being encrypted, until someome gets hold of the other end

    • cheese_greater@lemmy.world
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      24 days ago

      Shhh heh. If they catch one person who takes things way too far because they think Telegram is e2ee then I’d be okay with that

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    The media and Republicans really want to make this a repeat of 1968. I sincerely hope it isn’t.

    And you can tell from this article:

    “Make it great like ‘68,” one group posted to Telegram, referencing large Vietnam War protests at the DNC that year. “Shut down the DNC for Gaza!”

    “One group.” So… it could be three people and everyone else is saying, “no, let’s do this peacefully and let them know where we stand.”

    • Nougat@fedia.io
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      24 days ago

      The smart move for them would be to use their voices to bring the Democratic Party more to their side instead of sabotaging the best chance they have for anything they want done to be done. If you show up with the message “We could be your voting constituents,” you’ve got way more leverage than if you come trying to ruin the DNC right from the getgo.

      It’s almost like diplomacy is hard.

      • Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        While your point is ultimately right you’re telling ppl to be diplomatic about an ongoing genocide that is being funded with their tax money.

        It’s like expecting black ppl to always be calm and collected with police while being profiled. I’m suppose to be angry

  • apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world
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    23 days ago

    More copaganda about encryption. More copaganda about the left wanting to be heard at the most important time before a candidate is selected largely by corporate interests.