Dead Man Switch
A dead man switch is a security and disclosure strategy where an individual entrusts sensitive information to a third party with explicit instructions to release that information publicly if the individual goes missing, is killed, or otherwise fails to check in. In the context of UAP whistleblowing, it serves as both a deterrent against assassination and a mechanism to ensure critical information survives even if the whistleblower does not.
Use in Michael Herrera Case
Whistleblower Michael Herrera employed investigator Joey Is Not My Name as a de facto dead man switch before meeting with an anonymous insider at a secure facility. The arrangement worked as follows:
Information Transfer
Herrera provided Joey with:
- The date and time of the meeting with the insider
- The location details (though Joey tracked additional details independently)
- Context about who was arranging the meeting (facilitated through Steven Greer)
- His concerns about personal safety
Joey's Realization
Joey initially questioned why Herrera was "trusting me with information without any real justification." He then realized:
"He was going out to meet this guy and I got the feeling that he was telling me this information in case something happened to him."
Joey explicitly asked Herrera about this suspicion, and Herrera confirmed: "Yeah, if something happens to me while I'm out there, I want you to release all this information."
Recorded Evidence
To ensure he had documented proof of the arrangement, Joey recorded a phone conversation with Herrera the day before the meeting without Herrera's knowledge (Herrera was later informed and consented to its existence). Joey explained his reasoning:
"I felt like I needed proof in case I did need to — in case something did happen to him and I couldn't get in touch with him and I needed to reach out to someone to prove that yes, I'm in touch with Michael and these are the things he's told me and now I can't get a hold of him."
The recording captured Herrera's voice expressing fear about the meeting: "I'm nervous, a little apprehensive... if this is going to get carried any further then I need to speak to the horse's mouth, so to speak."
Outcome
Herrera returned safely from the meeting, and Joey was not required to activate the dead man switch protocol. However, Joey did use the pre-meeting information and his independent tracking to verify post-meeting that Herrera had indeed been taken to the location claimed, lending credibility to both Herrera's account and the existence of the insider contact.
Tactical Considerations
Deterrent Effect
The dead man switch creates a disincentive for hostile actors to harm the whistleblower:
- Killing achieves nothing: The information will be released anyway
- Streisand Effect: Assassination would validate the information and create a martyr
- Third-party distribution: The hostile actor must now identify and neutralize all dead man switch holders, potentially impossible if identities are protected
Limitations
- Trust required: The switch holder must be reliable and willing to follow through
- Information security: Giving someone else sensitive information creates additional exposure risk
- Timing ambiguity: How long should the holder wait before assuming harm has occurred?
- Partial protection: Deters lethal action but not harassment, imprisonment, or psychological operations
Alternative Strategies
Other whistleblowers have used variations:
- Encrypted file distribution: Files distributed to multiple parties with decryption keys released on death (e.g., Julian Assange's insurance files)
- Automated systems: Services that require periodic check-ins and auto-release if missed
- Legal custody: Information deposited with attorneys under protected disclosure
Historical Context in UAP Disclosure
The dead man switch concept has become increasingly relevant as UAP whistleblowers face:
- Alleged harassment and intimidation
- Career destruction and security clearance revocation
- Threats against family members
- Mysterious deaths of researchers in the 1990s-2000s
Multiple witnesses in Michael Herrera's own encounter — his fellow Marines — have refused to come forward publicly, with one texting: "It's not worth the risk. My family and military career far exceed anything you are asking of me."