Social Media

HOW TO: Stay Safe When Engaging in Political Activism on Facebook


Protests this year in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere have highlighted Facebook's potential for activism. After all, if the social network were a country, it would the world's third largest. So if you're trying to gather a critical mass around an issue it makes a lot of sense to be there.

Using the platform effectively, however, means using it cautiously. This is especially true in repressive environments like Syria, where authorities are currently arresting activists for subversive social media activity. The below tips are relevant for anyone and everyone looking to organize online for social or political change.

1. Take Care of Your Information

Your content and your contacts are on Facebook's servers; not yours. If your account gets deactivated by mistake or because you violated the company's Terms of Service, you'll lose all of this information unless it's backed up.

Under Account Settings go to: "Download your information," then "Learn more," and then click on the download button. You can also get an Adobe Air application called SocialSafe or a Firefox extension called Archive Facebook which downloads your profile, social graph and photos onto your hard drive.

These apps, however, will not download your contacts, so save those somewhere else manually. It's a tactic used by Egyptian activists running the We Are All Khaled Said page in the weeks before Internet access there was shut off.

2. Use HTTPS

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Regular old HTTP (what you likely see right now in the address bar at the top left of your web browser) is unsecured and subject to interception, eavesdropping and surveillance. HTTPS, on the other hand (an acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), makes the transfer of information between your browser and Facebook's servers a lot safer. Remember that HTTPS does not mean that you will be completely protected, so don't throw caution to the wind just because you were smart enough to enable it.

Set it as your default by clicking on "Account Security" under "Account Settings" and checking the box under "Secure Browsing" that says "Browse Facebook on a secure connection (https) whenever possible." While you're there, and especially if you frequently access the site from Internet cafes, also click the box next to "send me an email when a new computer logs into my account."

Remember to log out when accessing Facebook from a computer that is not your own.

3. Stay Anonymous Without Getting Kicked Off

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Facebook groups, pages and events are as helpful for dictators as they are for activists. The site is essentially a Yellow Pages of protest organizers, complete with times and locations for planned demonstrations. This makes it a lot easier to squash those protests and detain whoever was involved. Of course, this is more of a concern in repressive environments but that doesn't mean that anyone using the platform shouldn't be aware of and cautious about just how much of their identity can be kept secret without violating Facebook's Terms of Service.

So what's in the ToS, anyway? It includes a real name policy prohibiting joiners from using pseudonyms. That said, plenty of people do. The site's crackdown on these users has been arbitrary and erratic, so if you create a pseudonym on Facebook to protect your identity, avoid getting kicked off by making it a convincing one. Most importantly, have a plan of action in the event that your account does get deactivated.

Part of your plan of action should include learning the ToS so you know whether you violated it as well as how violations get reported (by other users, which can also be abused). If you don't have time for this, then get in touch with someone who does and who has the time and resources to contact Facebook directly on your behalf.

Editor's Note: Mashable does not condone the violation of Facebook's Terms of Service.

4. Anonymity Is More Than Just Your Name

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What other information might identify you? Is your phone number public? Is there a picture of you next to an identifiable landmark in the neighborhood where you live? (You should avoid using an actual picture of yourself as your profile photo in the first place.) What about the people you've friended? A close connection on Facebook to someone who has been arrested for political activism, or is involved with a group that you don't want to be associated with, may get you in trouble, so be careful about who you friend. Monitor your connections with tools that allow you to analyze your networks. For example Friend Wheel or Social Graph.

If Facebook privacy settings have got you confused, remember you can always preview how your profile looks to others and what information you're exposing by going to Account > Privacy Settings > Customize Settings > Preview my profile (see picture above).

5. Use Facebook So Long As It's Helpful

Facebook proved a helpful forum for recent movements to gain critical mass, but once enough people hear about your plans, don't be afraid to take communication offline and to the street. Do as much coordination as possible face-to-face or on other online tools. Some of these have been made by activists for activists, like Crabgrass, which you can download here.

6. Learn From Your Peers

Chances are, this post will be outdated in a matter of months. Why? Because people spying on activists are adapting their online strategies just as quickly as activists are. It's important to pay close attention to what others around the world are doing to stay safe, and to constantly update your precautionary measures.


Image courtesy of Flickr, KOREphotos

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