DHS Advises Police on Protest Behavior

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is instructing police forces to classify a broad spectrum of actions during protests as aggressive, including activities such as cycling or live streaming police operations, according to information obtained by WIRED.

Recent reports highlight that U.S. government operations, particularly immigration enforcement, are likely to stir domestic unrest. DHS predicts an increase in public dissent, possibly sparking conflicts around federal buildings.

Reacting to heightened media scrutiny and criticism following a military presence in Los Angeles, DHS foresees protests expanding across the country. These demonstrations are expected to refocus on anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sentiments.

Beneath the Surface: Perceived Threats

Documents released by Property of the People suggest that officers anticipate potential attacks using non-traditional weapons such as fireworks and modified objects. Additionally, the guidance suggests viewing routine protest gear and actions—such as masks, cameras, and using skateboards—as potential indicators of violence.

DHS further characterizes protest participants on bicycles or on foot as scouts potentially planning attacks, while livestreams are portrayed as tools for intimidation, equating them with tactics like personal data exposure or doxxing. These assumptions are framed within broader narratives of ideological recruitment and surveillance.

Some threat lists disseminated by groups like the Joint Regional Intelligence Center encapsulate efforts to anonymously identify law enforcement as an act of aggression. This suggests a conflation of basic protest dynamics with hostile actions.

The American Civil Liberties Union's attorney, Vera Eidelman, criticizes this stance, asserting that monitoring legal activities under the guise of potential threats contradicts constitutional rights.

Broader Implications and Responses

Ryan Shapiro from Property of the People highlights the concerning trend of equating dissent and journalistic endeavors with terrorism. This framework seemingly justifies an expansion of surveillance and control over civil liberties.

Post-9/11 security reforms have led to shifts in law enforcement, emphasizing preemptive measures rather than fact-based policing. Such approaches often include monitoring digital communications and affiliations to warrant intervention.

Social movements are now faced with a policing paradigm that foregoes old methods of de-escalation in favor of prevention through surveillance and preemptive action. Protest monitoring often relies on intelligence from fusion centers, which flag lawful expressions as potential threats.

Efforts have intensified in overseeing protest activities through technological means, including the aggregation of personal and public information on activists to create comprehensive profiles or 'dossiers.'

The Role of Information in Policing Protests

Agencies produce intelligence to potentially guide police attitudes leading up to protests, setting a tone for how law enforcement interprets and interacts with demonstrators. After widespread protests in 2020, for instance, several police departments cited disseminated intelligence reports as crucial for understanding protest conditions.

The information flowing through these channels includes both confirmed and speculative details, sometimes spreading misinformation that shapes public response and legitimizes police measures even in the absence of credible threats.

Perceptions of threat can influence public opinion about enforcement measures. Research indicates public support for police actions can be swayed by how protests are labeled and framed, often independent of the protesters' actual behavior.