They’re Tracking Protesters—And It’s Worse Than You Think

Danika Fornear
Apr 27
5 min read

big eye looking at protesters — Big Brother is here

If you’ve shown up to a protest in Florida lately—or even just shared one online—you could be on a watchlist. That’s not paranoia. That’s a growing system of surveillance built right here in the Sunshine State to track and intimidate people who speak out.

And it’s not just targeting “activists.” It’s aimed at teachers, parents, immigrants, union members, veterans, and everyday neighbors who dare to resist MAGA extremism.

Here’s what you need to know—and why it’s time to get louder, not quieter.

What’s Really Going On?

Behind the scenes, Florida is quietly using military-grade technology to monitor protest organizers and communities fighting for change. And they’re not doing it alone.

A powerful company called Palantir—backed by billionaires and closely tied to the CIA—has been selling data surveillance tools to agencies like ICE, the FBI, and local police. These tools are now being used across Florida to:

Track your phone when you go to a protest or even walk near one
Scan your face with AI-driven cameras and drones
Scrape your social media posts, likes, and livestreams
Build digital “threat scores” based on who you know and what you say
Share that info across agencies, from immigration to local sheriffs

It’s being called “Operation Sentinel”—a secretive system of tracking and scoring people who show up to resist right-wing policies, immigrant raids, anti-trans laws, book bans, and more.

Yes, This Affects You

This isn’t just a problem for “radical activists.” If you:

Attended a protest with your kids
Donated to a bail fund
Gave someone a ride to a rally
Posted on social media about Gaza, climate change, or book bans
Showed up to speak at a school board meeting

…you could already be in the database.

Even thinking about organizing something—without doing anything illegal—could land you with a digital “threat score.”

What Are These “Threat Scores”?

Palantir’s software can assign you a risk rating based on things like:

Who you text or call
What events your phone has attended
Your immigration or housing status
What keywords you post online
Who you’re standing next to in a photo

People with higher “TSX” scores (think: 80 or above) are flagged for possible law enforcement or ICE action—even if they’ve never broken the law. This is all done through data tracking, with no accountability, no warrants, and no public oversight.

Think of it like credit scores—but for criminalizing dissent.

Where’s This Happening?

Right now, it’s being used in cities like Tampa, Fort Myers, Miami, and Gainesville—but also in rural areas, especially where protests have popped up near detention centers, school boards, and courthouses.

Police departments, sheriff’s offices, and federal agencies are working together—using fusion centers and shared databases—to monitor movements they consider “extreme.”

Who defines “extreme”? People standing up for clean water, LGBTQ+ safety, reproductive rights, and immigrant families.

Why Now?

Florida’s far-right leaders are building the foundation for Project 2025—an ultra-conservative agenda that includes mass deportations, trans bans, book censorship, and total control over public life.

Surveillance is the quiet part of the plan. They want to:

Scare people out of organizing
Track mutual aid networks
Undermine protest movements before they grow
Deport vulnerable neighbors
Break solidarity across race, gender, and class lines

But here’s the thing: we’re not giving up.

It’s About More Than Just Protest Signs

Protests are powerful—but they’re just one part of how we fight back. The real work of building power happens when we organize our communities, support one another, and create the world we want to live in.

Imagine this:

What if instead of 2,000 people just showing up to wave signs in Fort Myers or Naples for a day, those same 2,000 people spent a few hours building something lasting—giving back, educating, connecting, and organizing?

Volunteering for voter registration and outreach
Hosting community skill-sharing circles—gardening, legal support, storytelling, protest safety
Delivering food and supplies to unhoused neighbors and immigrant families
Educating each other on how to protect our rights and build mutual aid networks

The visibility from something that big, that united, and that positive wouldn’t just scare the authoritarian right—it would inspire media attention, spark new coalitions, and prove that we are building—not just resisting.

That kind of energy shifts narratives. That’s what makes movements last. And that’s how we protect the most vulnerable while building real, lasting power.

How We Fight Back

We don’t back down. We get smarter, safer, and stronger—together.

Here’s how to protect yourself and each other:

Don’t go alone. Protest in groups. Use a “buddy system.”
Mask up. Sunglasses and masks help block facial recognition.
Leave your phone or use a burner. If you bring it, turn off location tracking and use airplane mode.
Use Signal, not Messenger or texts. It’s encrypted. Turn on disappearing messages.
Don’t tag others in protest photos. Don’t livestream unless necessary.
Write emergency numbers on your arm. Know your rights.
Build offline. Knock on doors. Host teach-ins. Share paper resources.
Support immigrants, trans folks, and youth leaders. Protect those most at risk.

They Want Us Quiet—So Get Louder

The goal of this surveillance isn’t safety. It’s fear. It’s silence. It’s to isolate us and make us feel like we’re alone.

But we’re not alone.

We are the people who believe in freedom, safety, equality, and justice. We are parents, teachers, farmworkers, librarians, veterans, artists, and kids. We’re the resistance.

Forward. Together. Unafraid.

**I get that some of what I write can sound alarming—especially to people who haven’t yet seen these systems up close, or who are trained to wait for something to be fully “verified” before accepting it as real. I respect that instinct. Skepticism is healthy. But here’s the thing:

What I share is based on a combination of verified public reporting and confidential intel from trusted sources—including law enforcement insiders, legal advocates, and people with direct access to surveillance infrastructure in Florida. I’ve reviewed documents. I’ve had conversations that aren’t public. And I don’t say things lightly.

Yes, tools like Pegasus spyware are real. Yes, predictive threat scores are being used here in Florida. And yes, protest organizers, immigrant communities, and vulnerable populations are already being watched—not theoretically, but actively. You may not have seen the FOIA drop or the mainstream headline yet, but by the time those arrive, people have often already been targeted, arrested, or silenced.

That’s why I write: not to panic people, but to inform them before it’s too late. My goal is to make invisible systems visible—so we can stay safe, protect each other, and organize with clarity and courage.

You don’t have to agree with every word. But if you’ve read this far, I hope you’ll at least sit with it. Because the truth is: this isn’t fear-mongering—it’s frontline reporting. And I’m not here to impress anyone. I’m here to warn people before the next headline proves us right.

Take it or leave it. Just don’t say no one told you.