Anyway, this is my first SHTF meeting. Is this the sort of place where people discuss strategies for confusing/defeating the surveillance state, or is that another group?
Assuming your question is serious/legit, I think the basic concepts divide between the strategic and tactical. Your area of inquiry has some overlap but most probably approach it as a tactical diversion rather than basic strategy.
If you have any military experience or have read serious military history, you'll know that the use of smoke to cover maneuver is a tactical approach to a strategic goal. Eventually the smoke will disperse but not before you've gained an advantage. The same applies to using chaff or interfering signals in order to mask an aircraft from radar observation. At a certain point, the opposing force will achieve "burn through" with superior radar power. This applies to surveillance because you're too small to generally notice except in a superficial way. However, "they" have the power to achieve "burn through" at their whim and your previous tactics will have no effect.
“Anyway, this is my first SHTF meeting. Is this the sort of place where people discuss strategies for confusing/defeating the surveillance state, or is that another group?”
Welcome. You’ll find a nice variety of expertise here and a variety of interests and opinions. Getting on Kartographer’s ping list will give you access to all the prepping threads.
Are you asking about outmaneuvering a surveillance state during confrontations or now, while Big Brother is monitoring us?
IMO, they will already know who to isolate long before any armed assaults take place. We will be used as examples to stop the rest of the population from rebelling.
bflr