🕵️ Understanding State & Corporate Suppression Tactics

---

Why It Matters

Movements are consistently targeted by state agencies and corporate interests.
From infiltrators and agent provocateurs to predictive policing and bot-driven disinformation, these tactics aim to fracture networks, discredit actions, or criminalize organizers.
Recognizing and responding effectively is essential to long-term survival and trust.

---

What You'll Learn

1. Historical Lessons – From COINTELPRO to Fusion Centers and modern AI surveillance.
2. Tactic Recognition – Spotting infiltrators, provocateurs, and surveillance patterns.
3. Digital Threat Awareness – Social media manipulation, scraping, and device tracking.
4. Structured Response Protocols – How to assess, document, and address suspicious activity.
5. Escalation & Resilience – When to alert leads, compartmentalize, or shift underground.

---

Historical Context: Then vs. Now

• 1960s (COINTELPRO): Wiretaps, infiltrators, fake letters to sow division.
• 2000s (Fusion Centers): Coordinated data sharing between federal, state, and corporate entities.
• 2020s:
  • Predictive policing algorithms flagging activists.
  • Facial recognition at protests.
  • Corporate union-busting tactics (paid trolls, lawsuits, “astroturf” movements).

---

Recognizing Common Tactics

Infiltration & Provocateurs

• Pushes unnecessary risk-taking (property damage, unplanned escalation).
• Over-eager for sensitive roles (finances, comms, logistics).
• Creates interpersonal conflicts or rumor cycles.

Surveillance Signs

• Repeated “coincidental” vehicle sightings.
• Unknown individuals documenting participants.
• Suspicious online friend requests or sudden social media attention.

Digital Manipulation

• Bot-driven disinformation campaigns.
• Fake accounts amplifying internal drama.
• Targeted doxxing or phishing attacks.

---

Response Protocols

Suspicion Evaluation Matrix

Behavior	Possible Cause	Action
New member asks about safehouses	Curiosity or probing	Limit access, observe closely
Strange vehicles near meetings	Coincidence or stakeout	Document plates, alter routes
Person pushes illegal escalation	Infiltrator or poor judgment	Separate, report to leads

Controlled Burn Technique

• Feed false, harmless info to test suspected sources.
• Use secure, private channels to discuss suspicions.
• Never confront directly without pod consensus.

---

Digital Threat Mitigation

• Always use encrypted apps (Signal, Matrix) over SMS.
• VPNs and airplane mode to prevent passive location tracking.
• Metadata scrubbers (like ObscuraCam) before sharing images.
• Avoid linking personal social media to pod activities.

---

Threat Identification Flow

---

Quick Action Steps

1. Verify identities for anyone gaining access to sensitive roles.
2. Use compartmentalization — only share what people need to know.
3. Keep a secure log of suspicious behavior for review.
4. Avoid public accusations — escalate quietly through trusted leads.

---

Risks & Red Lines

• Paranoia can fracture pods faster than real infiltration. Vet carefully.
• Going completely underground can erode community trust — balance discretion and visibility.
• Never publicly accuse without clear, verifiable evidence and pod consensus.

---

Scenario Drill

"A new volunteer consistently pushes for property damage and photographs meetings:

1. Log incidents and document behavior discreetly.
2. Limit their access to sensitive info or planning.
3. Bring concerns to pod leads for group assessment.
4. Decide on controlled burn or removal with consensus.

---

Checklist

• Can identify 3+ suppression tactics (physical, digital, and social).
• Uses verification and compartmentalization routinely.
• Can differentiate paranoia vs. legitimate threats.
• Knows how to document and escalate suspicions securely.
• Has a local legal observer or rapid-response contact memorized.

---

Resource Appendix

• Declassified COINTELPRO archives for learning historic tactics.
• Observation Logs & Suspicion Templates (for documenting behavior).
• Secure Documentation Guide (how to preserve evidence safely).
• Counter-Surveillance Kit: Contact trees, observation tools, rotation guides.