Keeping Each Other Safe Online: A Digital Guide for Abortion Justice Activists

In the face of escalating attacks on reproductive justice and increasing digital surveillance, abortion justice activists and seekers must take proactive steps to safeguard their online presence. 

That’s why we teamed up with inroads to create a guide on protecting you on the digital space.

Digital platforms play a vital role in activism and information-sharing, but they also expose users to risks such as doxxing, surveillance, misinformation, and censorship. This guide outlines essential steps to enhance your digital security and maintain online safety while advocating for abortion rights.

What To Be Aware Of

Social media, messaging apps, and online forums connect us and amplify our voices, but they also have their dangers, including:

• Surveillance from authorities and anti-rights groups monitoring activists and seekers.

• Apps and websites collecting personal data that could be misused.

• Misinformation and censorship that silence abortion information

• Doxxing and harassment, putting activists and seekers at risk.

  
  

How to Keep Your Digital Footprint Safer

Lock Down Your Communications

• Chatting about abortion support in a restrictive context? Use encrypted messaging apps like Signal.

• Make sure both your messages and their metadata stay encrypted.

• Turn off AI-based services on your phone to reduce data exposure.

  
  

Protect Your Location Data

• Turn off location permissions on your phone and apps. Here’s how you can do it on Iphone or Android:

iPhone (iOS 17): Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Then you can either → Toggle Location Services off; Or: Tap an app > Select Never, Ask Next Time, etc.

Android (Android 14): Settings > Location. Then you can either → Toggle Use Location off; Or: App location permissions > Tap app > Select Don’t allow

• If you're heading to a very sensitive location, remove your SIM card  to prevent tracking.

  
  

Shield Your Internet Privacy

• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your connection and keep prying eyes away.

  • A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that hides your real location and protects your internet activity by sending your connection through a secure, private server. It’s like using a secret tunnel to browse the internet—no one can see where you’re going or what you're doing.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add extra security to your accounts.

  • 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) is a security method that asks for two steps to log in: Your password, and A code sent to your phone or app. It’s like needing both a key and a code to unlock a door—much safer than just one.

• Use a password manager to store strong passwords instead of reusing them.

• Choose a secure browser. We recommend Firefox, DuckDuckGo or Tor Browser.

  
  

Be Mindful of Apps

• Some apps harvest way more data than websites—stick to browser versions when possible.

• Turn off ad personalization, which often disguises invasive tracking.

  • Ad personalization means your phone tracks what you do online to show you ads it thinks you'll like. It often uses your location, app use, and browsing—which can invade your privacy.

  • How to Turn Off Ad Personalization:

    • iPhone: Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising → Toggle Personalized Ads off

    • Settings > Google > Ads → Toggle Opt out of Ads Personalization on

      
      

Watch Out for Scams & Phishing Attempts

• If you get a sketchy email, text, or call asking for sensitive info, don’t engage.

• Double-check links before clicking—malicious sites look more convincing than ever.

  
  

Secure Your Social Media Presence

• Review and tighten your privacy settings so strangers can’t snoop.

• Avoid sharing real-time locations or personal details in connection with sensible work.

• If security is a big concern, consider using a pseudonym or an anonymous account.

• Double-check info before resharing—it helps fight misinformation.

• Use algospeak (coded language) to work around social media censorship.

• Keep backup accounts in case your main one gets shut down.

• If you experience censorship, report it at reprouncensored.org/report-incident.

• Spanish: Cómo abortar con Seguridad Digital https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/es/abortion-resources/digital-security-resource-spanish.pdf 

  
  

We Keep Each Other Safe

In a world that tries to silence us, staying informed and protecting ourselves is a radical act of care. Taking small steps to secure your digital presence keeps our movement strong and resilient.

Stay safe, keep resisting, and know that you are never alone in this fight.

🌸 Looking for trustworthy support in your reproductive health journey?

Download Aya Contigo—your confidential, secure, and supportive digital companion for sexual and reproductive healthcare. Co-created with over 1,000 Latinas and grassroots orgs across Latin America, Aya Contigo offers private, evidence-based information, real-time human support, and zero data tracking.

Your privacy, autonomy, and well-being matter. Access Aya Contigo here.