Understanding how to detect surveillance can improve journalists' safety in the field and the odds of completing one's assignment successfully.
The following is a CPJ Blog post by Mark Basil, CPJ guest blogger.
Much has been made recently about the digital surveillance of journalists – and rightly so – but physical surveillance remains a key tactic of security forces, law enforcement, and private entities. These operatives are monitoring journalists, gathering intelligence on them, and potentially obstructing journalists’ work or putting them at risk.
Understanding how to detect surveillance can improve your safety in the field and the odds of completing your assignment successfully. As a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service who now works as a private security analyst and consultant, I’m offering this basic primer on surveillance detection. Be aware, though, that you should speak with your editors and colleagues and seek direct consultation with security experts whenever you believe you are at risk.
Read the full story on CPJ’s website.