Digitial Safety & ICE

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Protecting your personal information

Personal information online is anything that can identify you or your family. For example:

Full name
Date of birth
Home address or places you frequent
Immigration status
Phone number, email
Photos of yourself or family
School, work, or anything related to your schedule

Now these are ways some of this information gets shared:

Online forms and sign-ups
Social media
Messaging apps
Email
Photos and videos

Okay… so how can this info be used against me?

Your information can be used to:

Track your location or routine
Build a profile about you or your family
Connect you to workplaces, schools or addresses
Identify loved ones or community members
Support enforcement actions or investigations

So, how do you protect yourself?

Share only what’s necessary
Use strong and unique passwords
Be cautious of links or request of specific information
Log out of shared or public devices
Turn off live location sharing unless absolutely necessary
Review app permissions (camera, microphone, location, contacts)

If you’re out for brunch, do not post your location while you’re still there. Wait until you’ve left. Posting in real time can reveal your exact wherabouts.

Once you share something online, it can be hard to control who sees it or how its used.

Public vs Private

public posts can be seen, shared, or saved by others
even if messages are private, they can still be screenshotted or forwarded

Photos, videos, location

Photos can reveal faces, locations and even routines
Location tags and checks ins show where you are
Background details matter (e.g. signs, license plates and buildings)

Geolocation data (location information attached to photos or posts) can show where you love, work, worship, or spend time. Even background details in photos, can reveal more than you intended.

You can usually turn off location tagging:

Your phone camera settings
Social media privacy settings
App location permissions

(Search your device settings for “Location Services” and review which apps have access)

Tagging and mentions

Being tagged in pictures or posts, connects your name to your profile/content
Others may share information about you without meaning to

Simple reminders and habits

Pause before posting
Ask before sharing photos of others
Review privacy settings when you can
Avoid posting legal updates publicly while cases are pending

As immigration status changes or applications are pending, social media activity is sometimes reviewed. Being mindful of what you post during this time is important. It’s important to limit how you share your personal information, because once information spreads, you cannot fully control how its used. Also, this does not mean do not post! Inform yourself and keep yourself safe.

Know where to find help and legal resources

Its important to know which organizations are trustworthy and how to reach them

Trusted types of support

Immigration legal aid organizations
Community based groups
Worker and tenant rights organizations
Digital privacy advocacy groups

How to spot trustworthy resources

Clear contact information
Transparent mission
No promises of guaranteed outcomes
No pressure for payment or personal information

When to ask for help

If you receive legal documents
If you are contacted by authorities
If you have a deportation order
If an application was denied and you are told to “self-deport”
If you or a loved one is detained
If you are unsure about your rights
If you are asked to sign documents you do not understand

If a loved one is detained, contact trusted legal organizations immediately. Do not rely on advice from strangers online.

Additional organizations

When in custody, know your rights

You have the right to remain silent
You have the right to speak to an attorney
Do not sign documents you do not understand
Ask for interpretation if needed

You may hear about something called habeas corpus, which is a legal right that allows someone to challenge unlawful detention in court. Authorities may pressure people to waive certain rights. Sometimes harsh conditions are used to convince people to give up legal protections. It’s important not to waive rights without speaking to a lawyer.

Understand your rights around digital privacy

Digital privacy rights help protect how your personal information is collected, used and shared. Note, that these rights vary depending on where you live.

You have the right to know how your information is used

Many websites and apps must explain what data they collect. You usually see this information in Privacy policies, cookies notices or banners, at the bottom or top of page when you first visit.
Privacy policies describe how your information is stored and shared
You can choose not to use services whose policies you don’t agree with. You can many times opt out of cookies.

You have the right to limit what you share

You can decide what information to provide on profiles or forms
Optional fields are usually not required
You can turn off certain permissions, e.g. location services

You may have the right access or delete your data

Some laws allow people to request copies of their data
Some laws allow people to for data to be corrected or deleted
These rights will all depend on your location and the company involved

Some platforms can be required to share user data if they receive a subpoena or legal request. For example, if WhatsApp is subpoenaed, certain account information or metadata may be shared depending on the request. Because Signal collects very limited user data and uses end-to-end encryption by default, some people choose it as a more privacy focused alternative. No app guarantees complete safety. Your digital habits matter most.

Additional resources

Know your rights when encountering ICE https://immigrantjustice.org/for-immigrants/know-your-rights/ice-encounter/
Digital Security Checklists for Activist https://activistchecklist.org/checklists/
How to stop Gemini from reading your emails https://www.rd.com/article/google-gemini-is-reading-your-emails/
Best WhatsApp alternatives for privacy https://proton.me/blog/whatsapp-alternatives
Other resource here…

Remember you are not powerless, we are here to help and fight together.

Digitial Safety & ICE

Protecting your personal information

Be cautious with what you share online

Know where to find help and legal resources

Understand your rights around digital privacy