📚 (Cyber)Securing Our Futures Identities, & Organizations

Hey y'all, welcome back! 👋🏼

As we move into a Trump administration, organizations and people who are speaking up for social change must be alert to how dangerous tech can be for our privacy, safety, and ability to speak up. We'll be touching on the steps to secure your digital privacy and the considerations for us as we continue to build a movement for liberatory change. Read on for more...

In Case You Missed It: 
📚 for communicators: 📚 Connected TV Guide | Low-Cost, Big Splash
🌱 for activists: 🌱 Reversing Digital Silos & Capitalized Isolation

(Cyber)Securing Our Futures Identities, & Organizations

Part I: Radicalizing Our Tech Stack for Resilience (Parts I, II, III, & IV)

When I entered the digital communications space in 2008, I didn't realize that I would be getting a front row view of the authoritarian takeover of the internet. That sounds hyperbolic, but the encroachment of digital surveillance into every aspect of our lives has become nearly universal both off and online and trapped us in our old harmful dynamics. The master's tools even digital ones, can't dismantle the master's plan for our society. But here we are!

The 2nd election of Donald Trump thanks to the hundreds of billions from Elon and the Big Tech Boys is a cumulation of what has been brewing for some time and it's time we talk frankly about it so we can protect ourselves and vulnerable communities.

Since the election, I have been recalling some of my early university lectures on tech and the internet. Over 15 years ago, I recall sitting in a theater style auditorium with hundreds of other students in an entry-level advertising course wondering if I'd have anything in common with the "creatives" since I had already been relegated to the "strategist." I was already siloing myself off from creativity despite also being a Radio-TV-Film major, but I digress...

An Idyllic Internet Long Gone

The idea of the internet back in the Obama era was a wonderful and magical thing. Many folks naively believed that we could cultivate a free and fair internet for everyone within a capitalist society.

This particular lecture I remembered was about net neutrality, which simply is that the internet should work the same way for everyone. How this played out practically was that no internet service provider could slow down competitor's (or any) websites, charge more for access, or throttle (slow down or cut) a person's access to the Internet.

The Trump team led by chief douche Kash Patel quietly ended net neutrality last time and the Biden administration has been so cozy with Big Tech (with the exception of the FTC under Lina Kahn) that it hasn't been a big enough issue. I similarly, haven't seen a lot of chatter around this topic during the transition, but regardless the idea of authoritarians controlling internet speeds and access to certain domains is...concerning to say the least. Whether net neutrality is dead or not is besides the point. The larger concern is that authoritarians are seizing the reigns of our society, especially the internet which has become a vital source for our society.

Armoring for a New Internet Era

My closeness of the tech industry has helped me be more discerning and aware of the harbingers to come before the public catches on. (Sometimes I feel like a bit of a Casandra!) While frustrating to witness, it has helped me to react and avoid harmful tech when I see it.

Over the last few years, I've been slowly shoring up my digital privacy and security to ensure that I can continue to speak out for a liberatory and sustainable future. I've become more closely aligned with how hackers are using the internet and digital geeks who report on them. Since November 5, I've been increasingly shifting my platforms to become more secure for myself, my family, and my organization. I hope to use what I've learned to share back to the community in the form of advice and resources.

The master's tools even digital ones, can't dismantle the master's plan for our society.

In December, I will be sharing more practical and tactical steps and ideas on how you can shore up your digital security as both an individual and an organization. We plan to offer the following resources to you:

1. 🔐 Cyber Security Resource Hub for Activists (this is live!)
2. ♻️ Submit a resource: resources and events from our community
3. 🎫 Strengthening Our Social Media Care & Resilience Event (January)
4. A step-by-step digital security guide for activists & movement leaders
5. A case study for organizations to transition to secure tech
6. A podcast on the history of tech and how we break from harmful tech
7. A digital security pocket zine! (it'll be printable)

💡 Download Your Social Data

I understand that the prospect of all of these changes can feel overwhelming! It doesn't have to be. I recommend taking it one piece at a time and mapping out how you want to shore up your digital privacy.

And, if you do one thing for your security this week, go to your favorite social media sites and download your content & data!

How to download your social media data (Instagram, Facebook + more)

Learn how to download data from Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTube so you don’t lose it at the whims of social media CEOs.

ZapierAnna Burgess Yang

🔐 Cyber Security Resource Hub for Activists

To keep us secure over the coming years, I've built an interactive database with resources recommended from the community.

My hope is for the hub to become a regularly updated database with resources for your tech and cyber security needs. The multiple database views (by type, events calendar, etc.) helps you find the resources that are right for you. Browse the find the resources that are right for you.

♻️ Submit a resource: I know our members are doing their own amazing work and creating resources that we could all use. If you have any digital, tech, or cyber security resources that you would like to submit to the Hub, fill out this short form and we'll process your submission in 3-5 business days. Due to my bandwidth, this feature is for members-only.

And that's a wrap on this week’s newsletter! We hope you found this helpful in your work. Forward this to a friend and help democratize communications! If you have any topics you want covered, questions, or curious about our Donate a Membership program, please reach out and let me know.

In Solidarity,
Sam Chavez
the roots of change agency

Help Us Extend Our Impact

Instagram • LinkedIn • TikTok • YouTube • Threads

🌟 Send Us a Review

We are always expanding and working to reach more social change communicators to support them in their work. Testimonials and reviews are a huge help for us to get the word out! If you feel called, please submit a review of the newsletter, podcast, and any of our other services. Thank you in advance for your support and kind words!

Roots of Change Testimonials

Hello! Thank you so much for recommending Roots of Change. We appreciate your support and partnership. Recommendations and reviews help me grow and support more social change communicators. If you are able, we’d really appreciate a review. Here are some prompts below. Why would you recommend subscribing to the roots of change newsletter? What did you value about our engaging with the roots of change agency? How has our expertise helped support your work? What have you learned? How was your experience? Was there a problem that we helped you solve? Why would you recommend working with the roots of change agency?

Google Docs