If you need to take any steps to prepare, don't take it at all. Get a Nokia 3310 and a new SIM, keep it without a battery unless you need to make a call.
> Leaving your phone behind means the data it holds and transmits will be the safest it will ever be, but it also means giving up access to important resources. It becomes much more difficult to coordinate with others, or get updates from social media. For many, phone cameras are also the only way they can document what’s happening.
> If you have access to a separate phone, whether it’s a “burner” phone, an old smartphone that you can reset, or an old-fashioned camera, you could choose to bring these devices instead of your regularly-used phone. However, not everyone has access to these devices, or can afford to purchase a separate phone just for protesting.
I literally quoted the article's suggestion to get an old-fashioned camera instead.
You don't know everyone's situation. If you are at college, you hear there's going to be a demonstration tomorrow, which you want be part of, you don't really have the time or resources to find an old camera, or old phone, or burner phone.
It's all about risk management. If you think it's going to be relatively safe, with what you think is no chance that the college president will send the police or other paramilitary force, then you probably can take your phone and use it to your advantage, while doing what you can to protect yourself in case things go south.
If there is no need to prepare, sure take it - I took my phone to many protests because I'm in a democratic state with strong rule of law and protection of personal freedom and privacy - no need to worry about it.
If there is any need to prepare, either don't go or don't take it. There is no situation in which you actually need to prepare and it's a good idea to take your normal phone and SIM.
The worst thing about this is the false sense of security it creates. All of this "preparation" doesn't help at all.
Run GrapheneOS. I've got Google Play running in a sandbox, it does not have special access to my location. Most Android apps run fine.
Also a good idea to reset your advertising ID, this is a generated ID number linked in various databases to your actual physical location including likely home address, if any apps on your phone have location access.
Cell phones announce unique device ID to all nearby radio towers, even without a SIM - and I wouldn't trust a modern phone without a replaceable battery to stay silent when turned off. Never bring your phone if you need to cover your tracks.
Worse or not depends on your threat model and trust in the participating servers. If you're talking about the protest, than you should not trust the government and big tech.
