LGIT director tells Worcester County staff how to handle First Amendment "audits"

Matt Peter, executive director of the Local Government Insurance Trust, told Worcester County employees that self‑styled First Amendment auditors—individuals who film government employees in public spaces—have become more frequent in Maryland and can create legal and reputational risks for local governments.

Peter described auditors as varied in appearance and motive and said their activity has increased over the past four to five years. "I think it's a lot about money," he said, explaining that some creators post videos to attract donations or ad revenue. He urged staff to treat auditors as a foreseeable part of public work and to use policies and training to reduce disruption.

Why it matters: auditors' videos can produce sustained public attention. Peter described cases in which confrontations escalated to arrests and later litigation, and said officers who detain or arrest auditors risk triggering federal claims. He advised that county staff not assume audits are harmless pranks: "once you come out into the world, that's it. You can be caught on camera," he said, noting that courts have treated audiovisual…