Facing First Amendment Auditors: Who Are They? What Do They Want? How Should You Respond?

First Amendment auditors are individuals who enter city or public property to record your employees, officials, and operations, often under the claim of testing your knowledge of First Amendment rights. They are known for confronting and recording law enforcement officers and other public-facing staff, aiming to provoke a reaction they can capture on video.

Their tactics may include verbal confrontation to “rattle”, “bait”, or “surprise” staff in hopes of capturing “recordable” responses. They typically film from publicly accessible areas, and any attempt to stop them could result in legal action, or viral videos posted online. First Amendment auditors have targeted banks, restaurants, city halls, and government facilities. This session offers practical, professional guidelines on how to respond effectively and lawfully to these often frustrating encounters.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the behaviors and tactics commonly used by First Amendment auditors.

• Apply best practices for managing encounters in a calm, lawful, and professional manner.

• Develop confident, compliant responses to avoid escalation and minimize risk.

Duration: 90-minutes

Who Should Attend: Security Officer, Human Resources Personnel, Frontline, Leadership, Marketing, Executives

Instructor(s): Branch Walton, Instructor and Retired US Secret Service Agent, Thompson Consulting Group

Recorded: July 8, 2025.

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This webinar on-demand is available for two years from the recorded date.