Public service announcement by the SF Bay Area IMC collective: While anonymous posting may seem anonymous, it is easy for the federal government to monitor web traffic even when it is said to be secure by web browsers. Posting from public computers is one way to remain anonymous, but many of those facilities can be monitored and themselves face serious risks if threats or illegal posts are traced back to them.

Indybay contributors should consider wider legal ramifications before posting photos or accounts of people engaged in illegal activities. It may be possible for the authorities to identify individuals depicted in photos, videos, and reports posted to the website, either through the posts themselves or by cross-referencing with other sources.

These warnings are not intended to discourage postings which document the results of illegal actions after the fact or of police engaged in illegal actions, such as brutality and murder. Read more