[orbisvicis]

How was Amandla even identified? Stingray at the protest? Then how was the phone number linked to Google? Facial recognition at the protest? I guess his details are on file under terms of the visa? So then the government simply asks Google for all details on the individual by name? Either is pretty disturbing.

[wmil]

Cell carriers sell geofenced data about cell phones in an area at a given time to anyone. There's zero privacy.

KYC laws mean that his carrier has his name and email address and the feds probably got that without anyone informing the customer.

[orbisvicis]

What about the find-my-phone BLE database, for which I just learned modern phones broadcast even when off? Is that controlled by the OS (Google, Apple) and not the carrier?

[incognition]

Use a faraday pouch

[OrangeMusic]

Then you can't receive calls?

[rkomorn]

Pretty sure a majority of people on this site would consider this a feature.

[thin_carapace]

i mean proprietary baseband blobs already provide a back door , but does anyone have a reference for the perpetual ble broadcast ?

[orbisvicis]

""" If the battery runs out or device is off

For supported devices, which include Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Pixel 10 series, the Find Hub network can locate your phone for several hours even if the battery runs out or the device is powered off. """

https://support.google.com/android/answer/3265955?hl=en#zipp...

Couldn't find any official documentation from Apple, but there's this:

https://www.howtogeek.com/805624/what-does-iphone-findable-a...

[orbisvicis]

Yeah, but proprietary baseband blobs don't control power, right? So if I turn the phone off, the radio ought to be dead... fingers crossed.

[Induane]

Not entirely. An iPhone can be "located" with it's find-my-phone features even if powered off (on by default, I believe you can disable this feature). Even if you disable it, you are trusting that it isn't discoverable in some form.

[SoftTalker]

Or there may be more to the story than he's telling.

[peyton]

Guy seems to have earned himself a ban from entering Cornell’s premises[1]. They seem to be letting him finish [2], which tracks—they’re pretty chill IME. Something might’ve went down…

[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/05/palest...

[2]: https://panthernow.com/2026/03/03/international-students-sel...

[pseudalopex]

This disruption, according to a University statement, involved shoving police officers, making guests of the University feel threatened and denying students the opportunity to experience the career fair.

Sun reporters on the scene did not observe any physical violence towards law enforcement but did note distress among recruiters, students and administration involved in the career fair.[1]

[1] https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2024/09/pro-palestine-pro...

[dwaltrip]

Is there a specific reason for suspicion?

[traderj0e]

The fact that we're only hearing one side is suspicious enough

[dwaltrip]

That’s rather generic…

Do you apply that principle universally in your life?

C’mon, be honest about why you doubt the story.

[traderj0e]

Yeah I apply that principle.

To be honest, it's that plus the fact that this article omits things we already know. It wasn't just that he "attended a pro-Palestine protest at Cornell University," they shut down a jobs fair. I went to a liberal college too, I know that a lot of these "peaceful" protests are actually quite forceful and infringe on others' rights more than anyone ever reports.

My bias is in the other direction if anything. The author was protesting the US involvement with Israel, and even if he did something wrong, I believe he was targeted for this reason only. If you ask me, Israel has way too much control over US politics and other institutions. AIPAC and ADL ought to be classified as foreign entities because they de facto represent Israel's govt here, and there are some people in those orgs I consider outright traitors to the USA because they're making us pay taxes to a small country overseas. We need like a Tea Party 3.0 (unfortunately 2.0 already happened).

[Yokohiii]

ICE is free to speak. I don't think they have interest to explain why they hunt someone.

[traderj0e]

It's true, by not speaking ICE loses some credibility, but they won't speak even when they're right.

[aurmc]

Nor, I assume, do they have any interest to explain how they hunt someone.

[hn_acc1]

Tracfone burners for any protests?

[fhdkweig]

The laws closed that loophole a long time ago. You have to either present a photo ID to buy in a brick and mortar store or sign for the package when delivering to an address.

[angry_octet]

That is easily avoided, but usually people think of opsec constraints after the fact.

[knowaveragejoe]

You can buy a phone on amazon right now and not sign for anything.

[fhdkweig]

Does it have a carrier service when it arrives? That is the part that matters. They don't care whether you have a piece of hardware that just sits idle. They don't want people placing phone calls that can't be traced back to an identity that can be physically located and arrested.

[knowaveragejoe]

To use mobile data, yes you'd have to prove some kind of identity in one way or another.

[HNisCIS]

Not in the US, am on a burner under a random name right now lol

[emmelaich]

He was banned from the Cornell campus. His identity is far from a secret.

[Induane]

The only way to be vaguely safe is to disable or not bring a cellphone with you, travel to and from places in some form of disguise, and to pay with cash.

[AnimalMuppet]

And to not go in a vehicle with a license plate that is traceable to you.

[pandaman]

Likely he posted about it on every social network he uses.