Along with social networks, camera-equipped mobile phones have become the signature tool of revolutions and protest movements around the world.
Law-enforcement authorities are aware of this, and often seize protestors’ phones to mine their troves of contact information. With that in mind, it’s worth checking out the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cell Phone Guide for Occupy Wall Street Protestors (and Everyone Else) before plunging ahead to protest with your cell phone.
For those who’ve heeded the EFF’s warning, and who have an Android-powered phone and want to bring it along with them anyway, there’s an app called “I’m Getting Arrested,” that could come in handy — when you’re hands are finally untied that is.
Developed by Quadrant 2, the notes that come with the app say that it was inspired by “a real Occupy Wall Street incident.”
The app basically enables you to send out a 16-character mass text-message to people you might want to alert (perhaps a lawyer among them) about your status.
If you’re outside of the United States, and protesting in a related event, fear not, there are Catalan, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Turkish versions.
The app has so far met with positive reviews, with 38 out of 53 users giving it 5/5 stars.
“A must have for protesting,” wrote “Jose” on Thursday.
