The Protestor’s Field Manual: How to Survive, Subvert, and Document the Kananaskis 2025 G7 Perimeter 2025 G7 Security Series #15

Introduction

You will not be welcomed.
You will not be seen.
But you must show up.

The 2025 G7 Summit at Kananaskis isn’t just fortified — it’s pre-emptively sterilized. Using drones, biometric scanners, AI risk assessments, and pre-authorized perimeter lockdowns, security planners have built not a fortress, but a signal scrubber. One designed to prevent your voice, your movement, and your metadata from reaching the public sphere.

This isn’t crowd control. It’s narrative control.
This guide is for those determined to rupture that.

The final entry in the G7 Security Series is not an exposé. It’s a manual.
A document for dissenters. A weaponized map.
It draws from 20+ years of summit suppression — Genoa, Toronto, Biarritz — and reframes their lessons not for lawyers, but for you. Protestors. Medics. OSINT monitors. Civilians bearing witness.

Inside: how to detect drone sweeps. How to digitally spoof presence. How to monitor press gagging in real-time. How to subvert biometric checkpointing, avoid pattern-of-life tagging, and legally disrupt the perimeter’s logistics spine. It also includes briefings for lawyers, independent press, and international observers.

This is not a call for chaos.
It is a call for presence — visible, tactical, and documented.

Legal Rights and Limitations

In Canada everyone has a Charter right to “peaceful assembly” (s.2(c)) and free expression (s.2(b))j. These rights protect lawful protests, but they are not absolute – the Charter allows reasonable limits under section 1. During the summit, special security laws will apply. For example, the Security Offences Act (a legacy anti-terror law) designates the RCMP as the lead agency for “security offences.” In practice this means the RCMP (with Calgary Police, Alberta Sheriffs and CAF support) will enforce closures and restrictions around the summit. Note that resisting or obstructing an officer is itself a crime (Criminal Code s.129), and even “disorderly conduct” such as fighting, shouting, swearing or blocking others in public can be charged (Criminal Code s.175). Law enforcement loves to abuse these statutes so, beware, and film all law enforcement interactions. There will also be temporary regulations for the event – e.g. Transport Canada has already announced a 30-nautical-mile no-fly zone around Kananaskis, and the government may invoke any needed emergency security measures (from closed-access zones to communication jamming). In short: the Charter allows peaceful protests, but expect tight limits.

• Know your rights: You have the right to remain silent and to ask “Am I free to go?” if approached by police. Unless you are under lawful arrest, you are not required to answer questions beyond giving basic identity (name, address, birthdate). You do not have to show ID unless you are officially detained or driving. If arrested or detained, calmly ask for a lawyer or legal aid line (e.g. call a civil liberties organization).
• Demonstration zones: Official “designated protest zones” will be away from Kananaskis. For example, the RCMP has announced a zone in Banff and three in Calgary for G7 demonstrations. By contrast, Kananaskis Country itself will be off-limits to the public (June 10–18). Summit venues will be sealed off with fences, checkpoints and armed patrols. Heed all exclusion signs and do not try to enter closed areas – civil disobedience beyond designated zones risks arrest under the Criminal Code or other statutes.

RCMP & CAF Security Architecture

The summit will be policed by an Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG) led by the RCMP. ISSG combines federal and local forces: RCMP detachments, Calgary Police Service, Alberta Sheriffs (provincial peace officers), Alberta Parks/Forestry, and the Canadian Armed Forces (support role). Expect a highly visible presence of tactical units and equipment: RCMP’s Emergency Response Teams (ERT/SWAT), Calgary SWAT, and border-security patrols will be on standby. Drones, helicopters and police aircraft will monitor from above, and mobile CCTV and license-plate readers will scan the area. In past Canadian summits (G8/G20), police even used armoured vehicles and jammers. For example, at G8 Kananaskis 2002 soldiers and police operated checkpoints on Hwy 40 and Hwy 742 (Smith-Dorrien) checking everyone’s ID and license plates, and communications were jammed by RCMP/CAF. In short, count on an overwhelmingly securitized zone – the authorities plan to “take back” control of all roads and trails. Do not obstruct officers or their equipment, as that itself is a crime. Even if you do not obstruct, if you are conducting legal protest activities, you may still be arrested pretextually in line with Canada’s long tradition of law enforcement abuse during summits.

Protest Tactics & Nonviolent Disruption

Protesting in a securitized zone isn’t about volume — it’s about vector. The goal is not merely to chant at a fence. It’s to bend the perimeter’s logistics, optics, and legality to your advantage.

This is not a call for destruction. This is a call for calculated disruption.

Tactics that Work:

• Choke Points: Map roads, access trails, and known RCMP/CAF staging zones. One person at a single access turnoff with a banner, if filmed and broadcast, can bottleneck an entire motorcade reroute.
• “Slow Walking”: Lawful, peaceful, and disruptive. Small groups walking slowly across legal zones (like pedestrian crossings or protest-designated sidewalks) can delay surveillance teams, vehicles, or press crews without triggering arrest.
• Press Shadows: Assign protestors to follow international journalists. You’re not just amplifying their footage — you’re forcing them to witness what the security perimeter is designed to obscure.
• Proximity Clustering: Gather just outside exclusion zones. 20 people legally camped 200m from a forbidden zone creates logistical anxiety for planners and maximizes visibility while reducing charges.
• QR Bombing: Tape flyers with QR codes linking to livestreams, legal toolkits, or briefings in high-traffic urban zones. The best protest content is frictionless. The second best is encrypted.

What Not to Do:

• Avoid provocation. Aggressive postures give license for force and dilute legal protection. Cameras should be passive, not confrontational.
• Don’t block emergency lanes. Not only illegal — it alienates allies (e.g. street medics, legal observers).
• Don’t protest alone. You’re not a martyr. You’re a node. Stay networked, stay visible, and stay calm.

Situational Command:

Know when to move. Designate mobile leads per cluster — people with maps, offline GPS, and legal contact cards. If police close in, break into pre-planned escape routes. Document their movements, badge numbers, and language.

Disruption is lawful. Disruption is optical. Disruption is the thing they can’t digitally scrub.

Emergency Arrest Protocols

Getting arrested is not failure. It’s a logistical consequence. The real risk is being unprepared — or isolated when it happens.

If Arrest Is Imminent:

• Drop a pin via encrypted messaging (Signal or Briar) if possible. If your phone is being monitored, verbally notify an ally of your location, badge numbers nearby, and that you’re being taken.
• Say nothing beyond: “Am I under arrest?” and “I would like to speak to a lawyer.” Do not explain, defend, or argue.
• Do not resist. Document everything mentally: tone, language, gender of officer, presence of camera, where you’re being taken. Write it down as soon as possible.
• Shed contraband. If carrying any prohibited items or tactical materials (e.g. marked maps), discard discreetly and legally before being searched.
• Signal allies. Use a pre-agreed gesture or code to indicate arrest risk in crowds (e.g. three fingers to chest, dropped hat, etc.).

If You Witness an Arrest:

• Film if safe. Vertical video, steady hand, zoom in on badge number, avoid commentary.
• State time and location aloud. “This is the arrest of [Name if known] at [Street/Zone], [Time].”
• Don’t crowd. Step back if ordered, but stay within legal distance.
• Notify legal support. Call a civil liberties hotline, lawyer’s number, or designated protest coordinator with timestamp and identity.
• Track transport. If you see someone taken in a van, record license plate and direction. Follow from a distance if feasible.

Post-Arrest:

• If released without charge, request documentation or confirm that no record was created.
• If charged, lawyer up immediately. Do not sign anything without counsel.
• Create a record of events: time of arrest, police unit involved, treatment in custody. This record matters later.
• If injured or mistreated, document injuries visually and see a doctor ASAP. Obtain a written diagnosis and preserve any used medical materials.

Remember: The RCMP, Calgary Police, and Alberta Sheriffs operate with overlapping authorities and routinely violate Charter rights during summits. Your best weapon is documentation and coordination. Don’t isolate. Don’t improvise.

Counter-Kettling & Mass De-escalation

They won’t charge first. They’ll trap you first.

Kettling — the tactic of surrounding protestors in a confined space with no escape route — is a preferred method of crowd control at summits. It serves two purposes: depersonalization and detention. It removes your agency, then your liberty.

Kettling is not a glitch. It’s the system working as designed.

How to Recognize a Kettle Forming:

• Line convergence. When police units begin to move in from multiple sides without issuing dispersal orders.
• Communication blackout. Jammers or cell interference often precede physical encirclement.
• Disengaged forward line. If front-line officers suddenly stop engaging or withdraw slightly, it may be to form a trap.
• Lateral motion. Watch the flanks. Kettles often form from the sides, not the front.

Immediate Response:

• Split before collapse. If you sense a kettle forming, break into preassigned pods (3–5 people) and move toward known escape vectors.
• Map the exits. At all times, someone in your group should be actively scanning for alleys, gaps, or unguarded paths.
• Go vertical. Parking lots, overpasses, construction scaffolds — anything offering overhead view can give warning.
• Silent code drop. Use a physical, low-tech signal (e.g., bandana over face = go to rally point C).

Inside a Kettle:

• Don’t panic. Panic triggers the response they’re hoping for — legal justification for violence.
• Document. Film everything discreetly. Badge numbers. Language. Gestures. Inter-unit comms.
• Negotiate only through observers. If legal observers or press are present, funnel all questions and responses through them.
• Use mass de-escalation. Sit down. Hands visible. Begin legal chant protocols: “We are peaceful.” “Why are we detained?” Reclaim optics before escalation.
• Assign a status broadcaster. One person should narrate events clearly for any livestreams or bystanders.

If You Escape:

• Don’t stop filming. Capture what you see from the outside. Officers hiding name tags. Excessive force. Deliberate delay of water/aid.
• Flag observers. Guide legal observers to the perimeter, offer witness testimony.
• Post strategically. Delay uploads until safe. Remove metadata. Tag civil liberties organizations directly.

In Toronto 2010, over 1,100 were arrested. Most in kettles. Most were peaceful. And most charges were dropped — but the trauma, data, and mugshots stayed.

Don’t just fight the kettle. Outsmart it. Disarm it. Discredit it in real time.

Offline OSINT for Protestors

You don’t need a signal to see clearly.

When cell towers fail, livestreams glitch, or jammers kick in, most protestors go blind. Don’t be most protestors. OSINT — Open Source Intelligence — doesn’t require Wi-Fi. It requires eyes, memory, paper, and rhythm.

Your visibility doesn’t end when the feed drops. It begins.

Tactics for Analog Observation:

• Track and log. Assign teammates to track officer movements, gear changes, and crowd flows with timestamps. Use analog tools: pen, field notes, hand signals.
• Describe equipment. If you can’t name it, describe it: “green arm patch, shoulder-mounted camera, tan plate carrier.” Gear = jurisdiction. A thermal camera at shoulder height usually implies drone-piloting or recon function.
• Log tail numbers and license plates. Use small notepads to jot down aircraft tail numbers, police van plates, or drone markings. Match to public registries later.
• Photographic memorization. Use mnemonic visual markers: e.g., “the guy with the Spider-Man tattoo has a Taser and is near the yellow medical tent.”
• Symbol spotting. Watch for decals, unit insignias, and visible patch codes. These will allow ID of cross-jurisdiction actors (e.g., CAF vs. RCMP, USSS vs. RCMP).

Tools:

• Paper grid maps. Mark camera locations, roadblocks, or troop movement. Share by passing, not uploading.
• Whiteboard slates. Reusable boards with grease pencils let teams share locations without words or phones.
• Codebooks. A pre-agreed protest code (e.g., “Black Swan = legal observer detained”) lets you signal without comms.
• Window reflection spotting. Use building glass to track movement without revealing your eyes or phone lens.

Integration:

• Debrief at rally points. Every 90 minutes, rotate your observation teams. Meet, swap notes, sketch.
• Redraw in clean environments. After dispersal, have an artist or designated scribe digitize what you saw.
• Release it later. Archive the gear. Map the drone paths. Publish the tactics. Protect the people.

Offline OSINT turns your team into a live sensor array.

While others lose their feed, you keep feeding the truth.

Surveillance and Digital Hygiene

Every action may be recorded. Urban security cameras will blanket Banff/Calgary and trails, police drones and helicopters will survey crowds, and automated license-plate readers will track vehicles. Expect Stingray/IMSI-catchers to sweep for cell devices, and social-media monitoring teams to scrape online posts. In fact, the RCMP has publicly admitted using “Project Wide Awake” to collect protesters’ cell data and compile social-media profiles, and has used bulk metadata tools on large demonstrations. As an example, and while we only object on principle, the RCMP has already been directly collecting Prime Rogue Inc data via its “dragon” server” since this series began. Protect yourself digitally by: using encryption and strong locks. Enable full-disk encryption on smartphones and tablets, use Signal (or similar secure apps) for messaging, and carry a burner phone if needed. Disable fingerprint/face unlock – use a PIN or password lock instead. Cover identifying features: wear sunglasses or a hat (to block facial recognition) and concealing clothing (cover tattoos or distinctive gear). When in vehicles, be aware automatic license-plate readers are everywhere – consider temporary plate covers if feasible and legal.

Above all, be careful with photos and location-sharing. Police and other agencies will monitor livestreams and social media for faces and geotags. Don’t livestream your location in real time, and think twice before posting images of crowds or infrastructure. As one digital rights advocate warns, authorities track protest footage online, so “people should be very cautious when sharing pictures or video” of events. If you do film, avoid capturing bystanders’ faces without consent, not because it is illegal but because it may jeopardize their security, and delete location metadata when sharing.

Information Hygiene & Disinformation Threats

The perimeter isn’t just physical — it’s epistemic.

State and police actors don’t just deploy riot lines and drone swarms — they deploy false narratives, fake alerts, and digital impersonators. Their goal? To fragment trust, flood the zone, and redirect collective energy toward confusion.

Welcome to psychological perimeter control.

To resist this, protestors must treat information like terrain: map it, vet it, and avoid booby traps.

Spotting False Flags and Sockpuppets

• Check the timestamp, then the source. Any protest “call to action” or security alert with no time/date should be viewed as suspect.
• Sockpuppet tells: Generic usernames, no post history, emotionally provocative language (e.g., “EVERYONE GO TO 9TH AVE NOW!!”), or excessive tagging of journalists.
• Watch for sudden tone shifts. A user who was giving tactical updates now saying “it’s not worth it” or “cops are too strong” may be compromised.

Tactics to Avoid Narrative Traps

• Don’t quote-tweet police propaganda. This spreads their framing — even when you disagree.
• Avoid emotional overreach. Sharing every outrageous video without context invites confusion and fear. Vet and annotate.
• Don’t fall for urgency traps. “URGENT: COPS MOVING IN ON WEST SIDE!!” with no sourcing is a classic tactic to scatter protest formations.

Build Internal Signal

• Use trusted relays. Designate people or group chats to filter and verify incoming alerts.
• Pre-agree on symbols. Use low-bandwidth hashtags or emojis to signal verified info (e.g., 🚫 = confirmed disinfo).
• Create parallel archives. Collect screenshots, timestamps, and source links in private channels for post-action review.

The goal isn’t to silence uncertainty — it’s to filter noise from action.

You are operating in contested information space.
Treat it like terrain.
Secure it.

Comms, Disinfo & Counter-OSINT

Summit security doesn’t end at the checkpoint. It moves across hashtags, signal towers, and the narrative trenches of social media. What you say online — or fail to say — will be monitored, scraped, labeled, and possibly weaponized against you.

This is the disinformation front. You are already in it.

State and private-sector actors will use OSINT tools to scrape livestreams, facial data, protest maps, and online chatter. Protester forums will be infiltrated. Bad actors will amplify rumors or deploy fake footage to discredit events. Several summits, including G20 Toronto and G7 Biarritz, saw real-time surveillance and planted narratives designed to disorient the public.

Mitigation:

• Verify before you share. Wait for cross-confirmation before amplifying claims of injuries, arrests, or abuses. Disinfo thrives on your urgency.
• Watch for false accounts. Bots and burner accounts will post inflammatory content to justify crackdowns. If a post looks too extreme or oddly timed, it probably is.
• Don’t dox yourself. Avoid posting images with faces, license plates, or other identifying information — including your own. Police and intelligence units now scan protestor feeds in real time.
• Use encrypted comms. Signal, Element, Briar — anything but SMS or Facebook. Don’t assume Instagram DMs are private. They’re not.
• Control your signal footprint. If you must stream, use apps that auto-backup, scrub metadata, and allow remote wipe. Consider delaying your post until safely out of the area.
• Hashtag discipline matters. Use verified protest hashtags (if they exist) but beware of honeypot tags set up to corral digital activity.
• Have a backup plan. If one person is cut off or arrested, make sure another is designated to post updates, contact legal support, or archive footage.

Remember: narrative control is part of perimeter control. If you can’t reach people with your voice or your lens, you’ve already been kettled — digitally.

Medical, Legal and Safety Preparation

Pack smart: Carry a protest kit with at least 1–2 L of water, non-perishable snacks, sunscreen and high-energy food. Include protective gear: N95 mask or bandana for tear gas, safety goggles for chemical irritants or projectiles, and sturdy shoes/boots for rough terrain. Bring a basic first-aid kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers). If you take prescription medication (e.g. inhalers, EpiPen), pack extra for at least 24–36 hours. It’s also wise to carry a small flashlight, whistle, and a charged power bank for your phone.

Identification and contacts: Always have government ID (driver’s license or passport) on you. Keep a written or digital “grab card” with emergency contacts and any medical conditions. Some activists write their name, a phone number and allergies on their arm in permanent marker. Memorize or store the number of a legal-aid hotline or civil liberties organization.

Legal support: Volunteer legal observers often accompany protests to document police actions. These observers (from groups like the Canadian Association of Legal Observers, or civil liberties groups) wear identifiable vests and note badge numbers; they do not stop police from acting. You should keep their number handy. Organizations like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and local legal aid societies may set up emergency hotlines for protesters. If you witness or experience rights violations, call them immediately.

Medical help: Know where to go for serious injuries. In Banff, the Mineral Springs Hospital (305 Lynx St.) has a 24-hour emergency department. In Calgary, the Peter Lougheed Centre (3500 26 Ave NE) is a Level 1 trauma centre open 24/7. (Canmore’s hospital is smaller; Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary is another trauma hospital.). Prime Rogue Inc has also learned that the Sheldon Chumir Urgent Care in downtown Calgary (1213 4 St SW) is being staged as a protest “aid” clinic for minor injuries but we believe that it is likely to be coopted by law enforcement and other security forces. Volunteers known as “street medics” often roam protests offering first aid. For example, the Toronto Street Medics group regularly tended to G20 demonstrators (providing water, sunscreen and treatment for pepper spray exposure). Do not rely solely on public EMS; bring basic supplies and seek out medics if you can.

Gendered Policing, Queer Visibility & Intersectional Risk

Not all bodies are policed the same — and the perimeter knows it.

Summit security doesn’t treat protestors equally. Queer, trans, racialized, disabled, and visibly non-conforming individuals face amplified surveillance, risk, and abuse — not as collateral, but by design.

This is a guide for reading the terrain through those bodies.

Queer and Trans Protestors

• Bathrooms, searches, and misgendering: Be prepared for binary assumptions during pat-downs, detainment, or hospital care. If you are trans or nonbinary, carry a self-written statement of gender identity and medical needs in case of arrest or misplacement in a gendered holding space.
• Deadnaming and data harvesting: If possible, sanitize your online profiles before attending. Police have scraped LGBTQ2+ posts to identify activists and “flag” them in risk databases.
• Visibility as targeting: Rainbow flags or queer slogans can act as beacons — not of pride, but of prioritization for law enforcement. Counter with decoy layers: clothing reversibility, symbolic disidentification, and travel in pods.

Racialized and Migrant Protestors

• ID and over-policing: Racialized protestors are more likely to be stopped, searched, or “randomly” screened at checkpoints. Carry ID but also be aware that providing it opens you up to deeper checks (e.g., immigration status).
• Customs & immigration retaliation: Non-citizens attending protests can face immigration flags. Do not carry documents you don’t need (e.g., work permits) and never disclose status unless legally required.
• Buddy system isn’t optional: If you are racialized or visibly nonwhite, assign a witness for all interactions with police. Appoint a protest buddy who is briefed to intervene, film, and debrief with you after.

Disabled Protestors

• Mobility as exposure: Wheelchairs, mobility aids, and visible disabilities may lead to tactical targeting (e.g., being kettled and then ignored). Bring extra medical supplies and document any denial of access.
• Neurodivergent considerations: Meltdowns or communication difficulties may be misread as “noncompliance.” Consider a disability card or wristband describing needs (e.g., “Autistic — needs clear language”).
• Medication bias: Carry prescriptions in original containers. Officers may (PURPOSEFULLY) misidentify meds as illicit drugs, especially for mental health treatments.

Intersectionality isn’t a buzzword — it’s your risk profile.

Know how your body will be read.
Plan like your visibility is a variable.
And never march alone.

Travel, Terrain and Environmental Challenges

Kananaskis terrain: The summit site is in rugged Rockies (Kananaskis Trail area). Expect steep, forested mountains and sudden weather changes. In June it can still be chilly or rainy (snow at higher elevations). Dress in layers, pack rain gear and sturdy hiking boots. There is little cell service off-road. Trails and parks near the venue will be closed entirely, so do not plan hiking or camping nearby.

Road closures & checkpoints: Major routes (Hwy 1, Hwy 40, Spray Lakes Hwy) will likely have checkpoints or closures. In 2002, RCMP and soldiers set up multiple roadblocks on Hwy 40 and the Smith-Dorrien (Hwy 742), screening every vehicle with wands and checking licenses/IDs. Motorists were ordered to turn around unless on official business. Fuel up in Calgary or Banff and carry extra gas. Have alternate routes planned: for example, go early or late to avoid convoy windows. Don’t attempt off-road detours; the area will be monitored by air.

Weather and wilderness: Always assume you could be stuck outdoors. Bring water purification (tablets or filter) and a small sleeping bag/blanket in case you are forced to retreat into nature. Share your itinerary with friends or family. Cell phones might fail – carry paper maps or offline GPS if hiking in any open areas. Finally, remember the simplest rule: stay with a group, know at least two ways out of an area, and stick to well-traveled roads.

Interacting with Foreign Delegation Security

Heads of state (President Trump, Prime Minister Carney, etc.) will arrive with their own protective details. For example, the U.S. Secret Service will guard President Trump’s motorcade, and France’s GIGN will secure President Macron. These foreign agents have limited authority on Canadian soil (they protect their principal only). However, their vehicles and motorcades are fully armed and shielded; they may attempt to take extra-legal activities if you approach or attempt to film them, as they will treat this as a security violation. In past summits it was made clear that any interference with a motorcade (e.g. blocking a street or touching the car) would be met with force by local or foreign security. Even photographing certain military or police assets can cause detention or charges in spite of your right, as a Canadian, to film anything you can see from a public right of way. In short: respect the cordons around VIPs, and understand that foreign security units enforce their own strict rules – and will not be held accountable if they violate your Charter Rights.

Foreign Delegation Threat Profiles & Grey-Zone Responses

Not all summit security is bound by Canadian law — and some of it doesn’t care.

When G7 leaders travel, they bring not only armored cars and bodyguards, but full-spectrum protective teams operating under ambiguous legal status. From the U.S. Secret Service to France’s GIGN and Japan’s SP, these teams are authorized to protect their principals — and not much else. But in practice, they act with broad impunity.

And protestors often get caught in the blind spot.

What You’re Up Against:

• U.S. Secret Service (POTUS): Armed with tactical shotguns, encrypted comms, and aerial support. Historically aggressive with crowd containment and known for perimeter overreach. Will detain first, ask questions later — particularly if you approach a motorcade with a camera or sign.
• France’s GIGN (Macron): Elite paramilitary trained for counterterrorism. Known for psychological intimidation, often with visible rifles. May respond to perceived “approach vectors” with detainment or shoving.
• Japan’s SP & NPA (Kishida): Less likely to act independently, but will defer to local RCMP coordination. Known to engage translators or Canadian liaisons to surveil Japanese nationals in the area.
• India’s SPG (Modi) and Brazil’s GSI (Lula): Heavily guarded delegations with politically sensitive reputations. Expect over-cautious security posture and possible use of diplomatic immunity to avoid charges.
• UK’s SO1 (Starmer): MI5-linked close protection teams with armored transport and discreet but sharp surveillance. Will not hesitate to use force if they interpret protest proximity as a threat.

Grey-Zone Dynamics:

• “Non-permitted” filming: Foreign agents may demand deletion of footage or physically block you — despite having no legal authority to do so. You are legally allowed to film in public, but expect physical pushback or temporary equipment seizure. Feel free to tell them to kick rocks.
• Unmarked agents: Some units operate in civilian clothing or with foreign diplomatic credentials. If you’re confronted by someone without RCMP or CPS insignia, document everything and ask loudly: “Are you a police officer in Canada?”
• Diplomatic denial: Foreign agents can and will refuse to ID themselves, claim national security exemptions, and walk away from any accusation. Don’t argue — record badge numbers (if any), take photos, and get witness statements.

Tactical Protocol:

• Treat foreign security zones like hard perimeters. Do not approach without a buffer, especially motorcades.
• Never initiate contact, even verbal. Speaking to or gesturing at foreign leaders may be interpreted as threat behavior.
• Be aware of comms scrambles. Some teams use short-range jammers near VIPs. If your phone suddenly loses signal near a motorcade, move away and notify your team.

They’re not supposed to be above the law.
But they’ve been trained to act as if they are.
Treat foreign security like a drone: avoid, log, and counter-signal.

Historical Precedents and Lessons

Past Canadian summits offer lessons. At G8 Kananaskis (2002), the site was enclosed in a “13-mile security cordon.” Civilians were turned back by armed guards and checkpoints, and protest activity was mostly limited to outside the perimeter. Cellular and radio signals were jammed by RCMP and military for security. In practice, few protesters even reached the actual summit.

At the Toronto G20 (2010), large-scale protests met very heavy policing. Over 20,000 officers and soldiers encircled Toronto’s downtown, and police kettled crowds on multiple occasions. More than 1,100 people were detained (the largest mass arrest in Canadian history). Officers used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on crowds. In the aftermath, Ontario courts found these tactics violated Charter rights, and the Toronto Police Service paid a C$16.5 million settlement to those wrongfully held. The lesson: even peaceful protesters (and bystanders/journalists) will be swept up; always document and demand the reasons for any encirclement. Police will continue to engage in these Charter-violating tactics because a protracted lawsuit is more expedient than acting constitutionally.

At the G7 Charlevoix (2018), the remoteness of the site again kept demonstrations small. Hundreds of Quebecois and out-of-province activists marched in Quebec City (a day’s drive away), but direct actions near La Malbaie were limited. Human-rights observers reported that police forces (including Québec provincial police and RCMP) were heavily armed and used intimidation (harsh language, blocking roads) even against peaceful groups. Many were subject to “pre-emptive” detentions or kettling despite no overt law-breaking. Amnesties’ report noted that the display of assault rifles and armored vehicles created a climate of fear. Expect the same for this summit. In line with Carl Schmitt’s theory of the exception, your Charter rights become irrelevant to law enforcement and the military in these contexts.

Media framing and aftermath: Officials often emphasize only isolated violence (e.g. property damage, scuffles) and downplay legitimate protest. After Toronto 2010, news focused on burning police cars, overshadowing stories of innocent people trapped and mistreated. By contrast, rights organizations and lawyers have shown that heavy-handed tactics often backfire legally. Stay lawful and visible. Document everything with video or photos (if safe to do so), and note officers’ badge numbers. If detained, ask later for a receipt of any search or charge, and seek legal advice immediately. Remember: most damages at past summits were minor compared to the public outrage over police misconduct. History teaches that well-prepared, peaceful protesters can withstand intense security – as long as they know their rights and stay together.

Post-Action Debriefing, Documentation & Public Framing

The summit isn’t over when you leave — that’s when the narrative war begins.

Once the tear gas clears and the checkpoints reopen, the G7 doesn’t simply pack up. It writes history — with press releases, press kits, and photo ops of smiling leaders. Your job isn’t just to disrupt. It’s to outlast the spin.

This section is your final protocol: what to do after the action ends.

Debrief Your People

• Team check-in: Before anyone leaves the area, regroup. Account for every member. Conduct a verbal or written debrief: What worked? What didn’t? Who interacted with law enforcement?
• Injury & trauma logging: Document all injuries — no matter how small. Photograph them. If someone was detained, get their release details and confirm legal follow-up.
• Asset review: Check footage, notes, and recordings. Back up data to two sources, including one offline or encrypted. Store badge numbers, times, and GPS tags — even rough ones.

Control the Optics

• Curate your media: Select images that tell your version of the event — not just action shots, but context. The signage, the surveillance, the scale. Show the humanity of the protest, not just the spectacle.
• Narrative saturation: Don’t wait for media to cover it. Publish first. Tag journalists, lawyers, watchdogs. Frame the story before police or state media can — “RCMP kettled peaceful protestors,” not “Protest turns tense.”
• Witness statements: Collect short written accounts from protestors, medics, observers. They don’t need to be formal — just time-stamped, plain-language recollections. These will matter if misconduct lawsuits emerge.

Archive for the Long Game

• Metadata logs: Timestamped photos and video aren’t just receipts — they’re ammunition. Submit them to trusted public archives or organizations like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association or Amnesty International.
• Encrypted backups: Store copies of sensitive material with trusted allies. Do not post everything online — hold material back in case of legal need.
• Narrative preservation: Consider publishing a post-action zine, blog post, or longform write-up. Collective memory is a tactical asset. The public forgets fast — your documents will make them remember.

This isn’t about ego or exposure.
It’s about narrative anchoring.
Police forces have PR departments.
Protest movements need archives.

Conclusion

By design, you are meant to be invisible.
By function, you are already classified — as a disruption, a digital node, or a “non-permitted presence.”

But if you’re reading this, you’ve already rejected the premise.
The 2025 G7 Summit doesn’t fear violence. It fears witnessing.
It fears the return of uncontrolled narrative space. It fears protestors who aren’t just present — but networked, strategic, and unafraid.

So document everything.
Spoil the optics. Map the gear. Confirm the drone paths. Archive the police lies in real time.
The summit was designed without you in it.
Insert yourself anyway.

This series ends here — but your presence begins.

Editor’s Note

The above does not constitute legal advice. You should verify the content’s factual accuracy, and consult an attorney regarding legal questions. This information is provided for educational purposes and represents the opinion of Prime Rogue Inc staff.