[Indigsol] Security Culture Basics

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

http://www.gnn.tv/B12503

Activism 101: Security Culture Basics

Anarchist Direct Actions [attached]

_Note: The above attached document,_ “Anarchists Direct Actions: A
Challenge for Law Enforcement,” is intended as a third-party advisor, a
sort of professional establishment consultant. It provides a perspective
from well outside anarchist thought. Know your enemy, know yourself.

Due to recent revelations concerning FBI surveillance and active
infiltration of various activist groups [see related items below],
security culture is a very crucial tactic and practice. For a more
in-depth and extensive security culture resource, go here. The following,
however, is one of the best brief overviews of the basics of security
culture that I have ever seen. Read the following carefully.

Surveillance

Assume you are under surveillance if you are involved in organizing mass
direct action or anything illegal, and take precautions. Don’t discuss
sensitive matters on the telephone, through the mail, by email, or in your
home, car or political office/center. Don’t talk about anything illegal,
even if you are just “joking.” Keep written materials and lists of
individuals secure and never bring address books to protests where arrest
is possible – if you’re arrested, the police may investigate all your
friends.
Never discuss illegal activity

It is never okay to:

• ask about someone else’s illegal activities;

• discuss your involvement or someone else’s involvement with an
underground group;

• discuss someone else’s desire to get involved with such a group;

• talk about your participation or someone else’s participation in any
action that was illegal;

• talk about someone else’s advocacy for such actions or discuss your
plans or someone else’s plans for a future action.

The only time it’s okay to speak about illegal actions is when you are
planning them with the small group of trusted people who will be doing the
action with you.
Adopt a Security Culture

Activists organizing mass protests, direct action or anything illegal
should make it as difficult as possible for police agencies by adopting a
security culture. Activists who are part of a security culture know
behaviors that compromise security and quickly educate anyone who acts in
a way that violates or threatens security. When all members of a group
understand security and correct mistakes, unsecure behavior becomes
unacceptable and will stop. This frustrates police surveillance and
infiltrators because they can’t obtain information or plant it.

People in the scene who gossip, brag or ask for unnecessary information
about underground groups or illegal activities are a severe danger to the
movement. The first time this happens, take such a person aside and gently
educate them in private about why such talk is a danger. Be careful not to
preach, injure the individual’s pride, or raise defenses and prevent them
from absorbing the advise. If an individual repeatedly engages in gossip,
bragging and/or seeking unnecessary information about inappropriate topics
after repeated educational talks, the person should be removed from any
position of trust in movement by being kicked out of meetings,
organizations, base camps, etc. Such a person is a grave risk at best, and
a police agent looking to provoke or entrap others at worst.
Infiltrators

Infiltrators attempt to get information about organizations, disrupt them
by creating splits and disorganization in meetings and in individual’s
lives, and entrap activists by urging insecure illegal activity. They
often disrupt groups, ironically, by promoting destructive witch hunts for
infiltrators! Carefully check out the authenticity of any disturbing
letter, rumor, phone call etc. before acting on it. Ask the supposed
source if she or he is responsible. Don’t try to expose a suspected agent
or informer without solid proof. It generally works better to criticize
what a disruptive person says and does without speculating as to why.
Avoid entrapment by only doing illegal direct action with people you know
well and trust. Avoid government-sponsored splits in movement groups by
dealing openly and honestly with differences within our movements in race,
gender, class, sexual orientation, etc. before the FBI can exploit them.

- From “Security Culture,” Slingshot Issue #72, with modifications by the
editor.