Monday 16th Sept

Engage or Avoid: Effective Tactics for Handling First Amendment Audits

Now that everyone has access to a camera, it’s easier than ever for anyone to claim to be an independent “journalist”. We are fortunate to have the First Amendment, and with that right, self-proclaimed activists are using that as a way to audit and humiliate Government and Federal Agencies. First Amendment auditing has become a nationwide trend, with so-called activists testing Constitutional rights in public buildings and filming employees to entice reactions. The goal is to engage public workers in any type of confrontation to create content to post online to embarrass the agency, get more views and increase their social media revenue. This session focuses on what is legal, what tactics First Amendment Auditors use and how to respond accordingly. This session will also touch on public records requests, which many auditors use as a reason to gain access into the building.