First Amendment audit

First Amendment auditing is a primarily American social movement that involves photographing or filming in a public or publicly funded space. It is often categorized by its practitioners, known as auditors, as activism and citizen journalism that tests constitutional rights—in particular the right to photograph and video record in public, a right normally covered by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Auditors have tended to film or photograph government buildings, equipment, and access control points.

Auditors have argued that the movement promotes transparency and open government. Some critics argue that audits are typically confrontational, and have criticized some tactics as forms of intimidation and harassment. Some opponents of auditors refer to auditors as "frauditors".

The practice is predominantly an American concept, since the First Amendment is a part of United States law, but it has also been seen in other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Russia.

Procedure

Self-styled auditors typically travel to places considered public property, such as sidewalks or public right-of-ways, or places open to the public, such as post offices, police stations, public libraries or other government buildings, and visibly and openly photograph and record buildings and persons in their view.

In sidewalk or easement audits, conflict might arise when a property owner or manager states, in substance, that photography of their property is prohibited. Auditors have a constitutional right to record in open public spaces, as there is no reasonable expectation of privacy there.