Huntsville Moves to Stop Surprise Filming in City Office
Speakin’ Out News
In a move aimed at protecting the privacy and safety of city employees and residents, the Huntsville City Council has passed a new ordinance restricting unannounced access to government buildings. The decision comes in response to increasing encounters with self-proclaimed “First Amendment Auditors,” whose tactics have sparked concern in cities nationwide.
Who Are First Amendment Auditors?
First Amendment Auditors are individuals who enter public buildings—such as city halls or police stations—to film government employees and interactions. They claim to be exercising their constitutional rights, particularly the right to record in public spaces under the First Amendment. While some auditors advocate for transparency and government accountability, others are criticized for using confrontational methods to provoke public workers and post the encounters online for clicks and monetization.
“One of the things that brings this on is the advent of a popular thing that is occurring across the country—the so-called First Amendment Auditors,” said City Attorney Trey Riley. “They sweep into a building, overwhelm your security staff, and next thing you know, they are all over the building sticking cameras in people’s faces—generally trying to incite anger or misconduct on the part of employees. It’s quite a disquieting experience.”
Riley said he recently experienced such an encounter and described it as highly disruptive to city operations. “It’s invasive of our employees’ privacy, and it prevents them from effectively serving the public,” he added.
Under the new ordinance, visitors will no longer be allowed to drop in unannounced and begin filming in restricted or private work areas without permission. However, the ordinance does not apply to open-access areas such as the City Council Chambers, which remain protected by the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Residents may still record public meetings in those spaces.
Public-facing areas like building lobbies will also remain accessible for filming, provided it does not disrupt business. Sgt. Chris Jackson of the Huntsville Police Department noted that officers often assist individuals in filing sensitive reports in lobby spaces, where recording by third parties can infringe on a person’s privacy.
“A citizen who is not recording themselves may not want their conversation—potentially involving protected information—captured by someone else,” Jackson said. “In such cases, we may ask the person filming to step away to respect the victim’s privacy.”
Riley emphasized that city buildings already have security protocols in place, such as weapon screenings and restricted access to office floors. This ordinance, he said, reinforces those measures while ensuring a secure environment for both employees and citizens.
“The goal is to maintain a space where people can apply for permits, licenses, or conduct other business without being recorded or interrogated while sharing sensitive personal information,” Riley said. “They don’t want to be giving out their Social Security number or business information under the lens of someone’s camera.”
District 4 Councilman Bill Kling sought clarification on whether the ordinance would interfere with citizen access to elected officials or events like the President’s Forum held by Council President John Meredith. Riley clarified that officials retain the right to invite constituents into their offices, but uninvited individuals would not be allowed to enter private areas and begin filming or confronting staff.
“You can still meet with your constituents,” Riley said. “But someone can’t just walk into the building and barge into your office with a camera, disrupting a conversation.”
To aid residents, signage will be placed at city facilities to explain access policies. Security staff will also be available to guide or escort individuals to appropriate service areas when needed.
District 3 Councilwoman Jennie Robinson noted a recent attempted incident by First Amendment Auditors in Huntsville, which was diffused without escalation. “They tried their best to provoke a reaction and didn’t get it,” she said. “Everyone handled it very professionally—firmly, but politely.”
Councilwoman Michelle Watkins of District 1 inquired about penalties under the new ordinance. Riley explained that violators could face municipal court fines—not excessive, but enough to make the point.
“The idea is not to punish people, but to maintain security, safety, and privacy in city buildings,” he said.
Riley clarified that the ordinance does not apply to outdoor recreational facilities or parks, which follow their own rules.