Nationalist organizations have always been the target for surveillance and infiltration by government agencies, journalists and anti-fascist research groups. Many groups have fallen victim to this, which often results in doxxing of certain members. It is of importance to be aware of this.
Schweige!
Sometimes, unwanted elements can slip through the vetting procedures. Therefore, it is essential to be mindful of your speech when interacting with other nationalists, especially when new members join an organization. Running your mouth could make you and the organization a target for further investigation and prosecution.
Discuss sensitive topics only with trusted individuals, and never talk about illegal activities. While this may seem like common sense, unfortunately, it is still not the case for many people.
Furthermore, you should always be careful when sharing even the most basic personal information about yourself. A combination of your first name, occupation, and the region you are from is often enough to potentially identify you. Be cautious when sharing this information, especially when in contact with new recruits.
Your online presence
What do you find online about yourself when you search for your full name along with the place you currently live or have lived in?
What do you find online when you search for your first name along with your occupation and the city you live in?
LinkedIn profiles, (old) Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as school and sports information, are often used as leads by journalists to track you. Do not underestimate what they can find about you! Journalists utilize every piece of information to build a profile around you and may even go as far as contacting family members, neighbours and old friends.
Scrubbing
If there are certain accounts on the internet that you no longer use, you should consider deleting them. If you have citizenship in an EU country, you have the right to be forgotten under GDPR legislation. This means you can request the deletion of information, even if you cannot delete it yourself, by contacting the party that displays the information. Read more about the right to be forgotten here.