Maintaining an appearance of normalcy Airports and military checkpoints are not the only high-risk sites for journalists; the threat of being identified through citizen-led crowdsourced surveillance also poses frequent risks, especially when one appears “suspicious.” This effort to blend in encompasses three layers: physical, digital, and emotional normalcy. The first and most visible layer involves appearing physically inconspicuous to avoid drawing the attention of the military or other citizens, as demonstrated by journalists #1 and #5 in the “Perceived Threats and Risks” section. Journalists #1 and #2 stress the importance of not fitting the stereotype of an activist, believing that the military, lacking resources for thorough inspections, relies heavily on perception and intuition— which is also confirmed by experiences of obfuscation mentioned below. As Journalist #1 explained: Since the military [checkpoints] inspect everyone every day, they can't thoroughly inspect everyone. So, just make sure you don't appear suspicious or significant, especially avoid looking like a “character” [journalist, resistance force] that might threaten them. Young male adults with brave looks and strong body structures are not okay. Especially with tanned skin. 35