Are there remote services that can save video live streams if your phone is confiscated or destroyed?

[Girard442]

I think the ACLU had one once, but not sure they do anymore.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Google AI Overview of the question

Yes, several services and methods can automatically save video live streams to the cloud, protecting them if your phone is confiscated or destroyed
. For the most reliable protection in an emergency, it is crucial to use a service that automatically uploads as you record.
Apps designed for emergency recording

Parachute: This app is purpose-built for emergency situations. It continuously records video, audio, and location data and streams it to the cloud. It can also instantly text, call, and email your emergency contacts with a link to your live feed and location.
Google Pixel's Personal Safety app: For Google Pixel owners, this built-in app has an "Emergency SOS" feature. By pressing the power button five times, you can start a video recording that automatically uploads to your Google Account and shares a link with your emergency contacts.
ACLU's Mobile Justice (discontinued): In the past, apps like this existed to record and automatically upload footage to a server. While Mobile Justice was shut down in 2024, it shows the potential for these types of tools. Some developers are still working on similar apps for this specific purpose.

Social media and streaming platforms

YouTube Live and Twitch: You can use these platforms to live stream discreetly to a private or unlisted account. Both services automatically save a video-on-demand (VOD) of your stream to your account, ensuring a copy is saved to the cloud. Some users show how to set up a private stream from a phone to a home PC to record the footage automatically.
Discord: Users on Reddit also suggest using Discord's streaming features to broadcast and record footage.

Customizable and advanced solutions

Third-party streaming apps with RTMP: Apps like Larix Broadcaster and Streamlabs can stream video to a self-hosted server or a service like AWS Interactive Video Service (IVS). With this method, you can send a stream to a private cloud storage bucket. However, this setup requires more technical expertise to configure.
Automation with Tasker (Android): For advanced Android users, the Tasker app can be configured to automate emergency recording. You can set up a trigger to start recording one-minute clips, upload each clip to Google Drive, and send an SMS with your location and a video link to a contact.
Background Video Recorder Pro (Android): This app records video in the background, allowing you to use other apps or turn the screen off while the recording continues. It can be configured to automatically upload recordings to cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

General cloud backup methods

Google Photos and iCloud Photos: While not specifically for live streaming, turning on automatic backup for your photos and videos on Google Photos or iCloud ensures that recordings will be backed up as long as you have an internet connection. However, some users have reported delays in uploading, and you may need to disable battery optimization settings to ensure uploads continue uninterrupted.

Important considerations

Connection Speed: The quality and timeliness of your video backup will depend heavily on your cellular or Wi-Fi connection speed. A poor connection can lead to choppy video or significant delays in uploading.
Power and Discreetness: A confiscated phone may be immediately turned off, so activating a recording and auto-upload feature discreetly and quickly is key. Emergency apps and background recorders are designed to address this.
Laws regarding recording: Laws on recording vary by jurisdiction. You are responsible for knowing and following the laws wherever you are.

[Girard442]

4. TY. Lot of stuff to digest there. Working on it.

As you can I see I'm visualizing a worst case where the Gestapo grab me and my phone. I'd like to imagine a setup where someone sees the video evidence of what when down.

[AZJonnie]

2. Another maybe-issue with "General cloud backup methods" mentioned in post #1

Is that if the gestapo *makes* you delete the video(s) you took from your phone, this will likely delete your cloud copy as well since normally these transfers are basic directory copy methods. I'm not sure if thats avoidable thru some kind of settings change but something to consider. These methods are also easy to test esp. if you also connect a PC to the same dropbox, you can try taking videos and see how long it takes to arrive in the cloud folder, whether anything arrives if the phone is shut off in the middle of the video (and is it uncorrupted when it arrives), whether there's an option to not delete files just because they're deleted from the phone directory, etc.

I have OneDrive on my android and my PC, and the OneDrive software uploads any vids I take on my phone to a cloud-based OneDrive/Pictures/Camera Roll folder I can access on my PC as part of the regular directory structure. I've not tested any of the things I mentioned above, but now that you mention it, I probably should. It may also be possible to set it up to copy any new media to the PC itself automatically, I know on mine I have it set to download on opening but there may be an 'always download' option

[Girard442]

5. TY. Haven't been a user of OneDrive up til now, but I'll look into it.

[Hekate]

3. Check with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF.org) site. They have a range of useful info.

https://www.eff.org/

[Girard442]

6. Will do. They're good people.