Documentation & Safety
Tips for recording safely and securely during incidents.
Documentation & Safety
Recording what you see can be a powerful act of protection — but it must be done safely, legally, and with care for the people involved. This lesson walks you through best practices for documenting incidents of ICE, police, or other state activity without causing harm.
Info
Documentation is not just about proving what happened. It's about protecting the vulnerable and shifting power through visibility. Over 60% of deportation defenses rely on community documentation.
Why Documentation Matters
- Creates public accountability
- Deters misconduct
- Helps verify reports
- Supports legal defense
- Builds community awareness
But it also comes with risks — especially for those being filmed. Your role is to minimize harm while maximizing truth.
What This Covers
This module focuses on documentation in public spaces. Private property recordings may require explicit consent and vary by state law.
When Should You Record?
Record if:
- You see ICE, law enforcement, or harassment in public
- Someone is being stopped, questioned, or detained
- You witness abuse of power
- You're helping verify a report
Do NOT record:
- If it could endanger the person being targeted
- Inside private property without consent
- If someone asks you not to (especially vulnerable folks)
Consent & Care
Whenever possible, ask the person affected if it’s okay to record — even after the fact. If they’re in public, you may legally be allowed to film, but ethical consent is still important.
Scripts for Consent:
- “Is it okay if I record this for legal support?”
- (Show your screen, gesture, or nod — in high-stress moments, non-verbal consent matters)
Warning
Never post footage of someone being targeted without blurring faces, especially if they're undocumented, trans, or otherwise at risk.
Tips for Effective Recording
- Narrate clearly: Include time, location, and summary:
“July 6th, 3:12pm. ICE agents at Main & Broadway in Hillsboro. Four unmarked SUVs, three people detained.”
- Use landscape mode
- Hold steady with two hands or brace
- Capture ID (badge numbers, vehicle plates)
- Avoid zoom (move closer only if safe)
- Minimize background noise unless narrating
When to Stop (or Pause) Recording
Important
🚨 Consider stopping, pausing, or repositioning your filming if:
- An officer aims a weapon at you
- You are alone, clearly outnumbered, or being directly threatened
- Your filming is escalating risk for the person being filmed
- It’s possible to hand off recording to someone safer nearby
⚠️ But keep filming if:
- Someone is being forcibly detained, threatened, or harmed
- You're witnessing potential abuse or use of force
- Stopping would erase accountability or reduce safety for them
Info
If the person being filmed is distressed, that doesn’t always mean you should stop. Documenting may be the only protection they have. Make eye contact if you can. Signal that you’re there to keep them safe — not exploit them.
How to Stay Safe While Recording
- Keep a safe distance
- Avoid announcing unless strategic
- Know your rights to film public officials in public
- Enable screen lock and duress PIN apps
- Disable Face ID / fingerprint unlock
- Use airplane mode during protests
Saving and Uploading
- Upload to encrypted platforms like Signal, Keybase, or Dropbox
- If offline, rename the file:
ICE-Hillsboro-July6-3pm.mp4 - Never post raw footage online — send to trusted legal/support teams
- Use metadata scrubbing tools like ObscuraCam or ExifCleaner
When You’re Not the One Recording
You can still:
- Create space for the filmer
- Narrate time/place
- Watch their back
- Help upload and relay footage
- Assist with blurring before sharing
What NOT to Do (Unless Safety Requires It)
-
Don’t film people without consent if they are:
- A child
- Trans or nonbinary
- Undocumented
- In visible distress
— unless they are being harmed, detained, or harassed and you are documenting to protect them.
-
Do not share identifying details (names, plates, addresses) unless the person asks you to.
-
Avoid livestreaming unless it's the safest or fastest way to get visibility and stop harm.
-
Never edit footage in ways that change the truth or remove vital context.
Info
When someone is being detained, harmed, or threatened — especially from a targeted group — filming can be protective. But check in with others around you if possible. Safety and consent are both part of solidarity.
Real-Life Scenario
Courthouse Pickup
You’re at a courthouse and see someone being taken into ICE custody. Here's your response:
- Move to safety
- Record quietly
- Narrate: “10:43am, July 6, ICE at Washington County Courthouse. One detained.”
- Upload to encrypted channel
- Submit report via ICE Tea Watch
- Flag as urgent if high risk
Protest Scenario
Police begin kettling demonstrators. Some are masked; others are distressed.
What you do:
- Film from distance — wide angles
- Narrate: “5:30pm, police advancing with batons at Main & Pine.”
- Avoid close-ups of faces
- Upload securely
- Blur footage before external sharing
Recommended Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | Encrypted uploads, | Auto-upload to trusted contacts |
| Dropbox / GDrive | Cloud backups | Secure backups if phone is seized |
| ObscuraCam | Blur faces & strip metadata | Critical before sharing footage |
| ICE Tea Watch | Submit reports | Supports coordinated response |
| ExifCleaner | Remove hidden metadata (desktop) | Windows/Linux/MacOS tool |
Rabbit Hole
🗃️ Digital Security for Witnesses Study how to safely collect, store, and share footage of state violence. → Resource: witness.org | Camera V Guide
Rabbit Hole
🧾 Learn About Chain of Custody Understand how documentation must be handled to be legally valid. → Search: "Digital evidence chain of custody field guide"
Final Notes
Your recording could one day prevent deportation or reveal abuse — but only if done carefully.
Success
Good documentation is invisible, intentional, and respectful.
📘 Knowledge Check
What is the primary goal of documenting incidents involving ICE or police?
Even if filming is legal, consent and context still matter when recording people.
Which of the following are good practices when recording an incident?
Blurring faces before sharing footage online helps protect the identity and safety of those involved.
What should you do if you’re not the one filming but want to help?
You should always livestream high-risk encounters as they happen.
Which tools help protect data or vulnerable identities?
What is one valid reason to avoid recording even if something harmful is happening in public?
What should you include in your narration while filming?
What is one step you should take after recording a high-risk encounter?
Police officers can legally delete your footage if they say it’s evidence.
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