Digital Activists Reveal Methods of Tracking Individuals in the "Gayun Affair"
In the ongoing "Belarusian Gayun" case, law enforcement agencies in Belarus have been employing a variety of tactics to track individuals suspected of being involved. The case, which has seen over 250 arrests in the Gomel region alone, underscores the importance of online anonymity in today's digital age.
Being found through connections with already detained individuals increases the risk of being traced. During inspections of detainees' devices, IDs of other users may be discovered, providing law enforcement with potential leads. Similarly, using unique usernames that match usernames on other social networks, revealing identifying information such as name, location, place of work, etc., or having a non-anonymous Telegram account with real personal information, photos, or an open number, can make individuals more vulnerable to being traced.
Law enforcement agencies do not rely on a single method to track individuals. They use a combination of tactics, such as checking files for metadata with coordinates in photos/videos or location determination from content of frames, mobile tower data (Mayak) to narrow down the pool of subscribers based on messages about different locations at different times, and if the time and location can be matched, reviewing street camera footage for potential identification or tracing back to home/work.
Obtained files can be exported and analyzed by law enforcement, and if a Telegram account was once non-anonymous or the owner was in open chats, data could have been exported from the bot. However, it's important to note that deleting a Telegram account does not guarantee anonymity, as individuals can still be traced through other sources.
The "Cyber partisans" stress that no one can be certain if there are any "leads" against them, as it depends on the combination of data collected. They advise deleting Telegram accounts, especially for those inside the country who have previously interacted with a bot.
Several individuals have already been sentenced in the "Gayun case," including a mother from the Mozyr district, a 20-year-old from Lepel, and a pastor from the Hoynik district. The arrests related to the case are expected to continue in Belarus in the coming weeks.
In addition, security services have created a fake bot supposedly for evacuating those who sent information to "Belarusian Gayun." This underscores the need for vigilance and caution when interacting online, particularly in sensitive political circumstances.
In conclusion, maintaining online anonymity is crucial in today's digital age, especially in politically sensitive situations like the ongoing "Belarusian Gayun" case. Individuals should be mindful of the information they share online and the potential risks associated with it.
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