zlacker

>>pera+(OP)
The biggest drawback with Signal for protesters is that it exposes the user's phone number to everyone else in groups (just like WhatsApp does). There is no way to even hide the fact that you have an account on Signal. I can add phone numbers by enumeration into my contacts and Signal will show who among my contacts is on it. If the authorities don't use tactics like they did in Hong Kong, the protesters may be safe from being spied on (or worse).

>>AnonC+ul
Signal is not only used by protesters[0][1] so discovering that a phone number is connected to a Signal account by no means implies that the phone is used by a protester.

[0]: https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2020/01/23/deploye...

[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/17/tories-swit...

>>hjek+7m
Yeah, if you're ever asked why you're on Signal, just say you wanted to stay in touch with a programmer friend who's not on Facebook/WhatsApp, and they suggested Signal (that is now literally true as well - I suggest you try Signal, friend)

>>m12k+wn
If the law enforcement is talking to you in the U.S., the only right answer is "I'd prefer to have a laywer here."

Not a joke, for real.

They are experts at getting you to talk to them even if you know this. They are experts at getting you to say things that incriminate you or your friends -- that you or your friends have done nothing wrong (in your opinion/as far as you know) will not protect you.

The only answers you should be rehearsing or thinking of in advance are "I would like a lawyer" and "I would like to remain silent." They are rehearsing how to get you to say incriminating things, a lot. Rehearsing or thinking up any other answers only plays into their strengths. Even knowing this, I've been tricked into talking to them, to my detriment. They are really good at it.

>>jrochk+5T
I’ve heard this before but here’s my practical problem: I don’t know any lawyers. I have literally no idea who to call in such a situation. Do I have to go find and retain a lawyer beforehand just in case I might need one later?

>>vincen+TV
You might want to find one advance, but you just have to not talk to the police UNTIL you find one when you need one. You in fact have the constitutional right to this.

Even a last minute lawyer who may not turn out to be ideal is better than no lawyer. A public defender may also be an option in some cases.

When you say the 'magic' legal words "I want a lawyer", they should not talk to you anymore until you have one. In most cases, you are or will be at home with plenty of time to find a lawyer. In some cases you may find yourself detained/arrested ("Am I being detained? Am I free to go?" are other 'magic' words). They may try to tell you that if you would only talk to them, they would let you go -- they are VERY LIKELY lying.

Do not trust that you can tell or sense if they are lying or not. They are experts at tricking you, they are trained and have lots of practice in it. They are legally allowed to lie. (In my personal experience, they did lie about exactly this -- they said "if you just talk to us, you can be on your way", I talked to them, I got arrested anyway.).

Getting arrested sucks; talking to the police without a lawyer can make it much much worse.

tldr; no, you don't need a lawyer in advance, you can ALWAYS say "I would like to remain silent, I would like a lawyer", and you always have this right, and they can not talk to you (or use anything from talking to you) without a lawyer once you've said this.