Diff: Audit the Audit
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'''Audit the Audit''' is a [[YouTube]] channel and online platform dedicated to analysing and critiquing the conduct of law enforcement officers and public officials in various encounters, incidents, and interactions. The channel provides comprehensive breakdowns of videos captured during interactions with law enforcement, offering insights, legal context, and commentary on the actions of both citizens and officers. |
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'''Audit the Audit''' is a YouTube channel focused on police encounters, First Amendment audits and public-official accountability videos. The channel reviews recorded interactions and explains the legal issues, tactical choices and conduct shown in the footage. |
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== Overview == |
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The channel's primary focus is on auditing videos - recordings captured by individuals, often referred to as "[[auditors]]," who deliberately engage in interactions with law enforcement officers to test their behaviour and adherence to legal standards. These interactions often occur in public spaces, government buildings, and other locations where law enforcement activities are conducted. |
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Its videos usually combine original or submitted footage with narration, statutes, case references and a final grading of the people involved. The channel's own description says it sorts out the "who and what" and the "right and wrong" of police interactions. |
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The channel's creator, Josiah Rises, provides detailed commentary and analysis of the audited videos, discussing topics such as: |
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== Format == |
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Most episodes centre on a recorded encounter involving police, security, government staff or a person filming in public. The footage may come from body-worn cameras, dash cameras, public records requests, bystander video, auditor channels or submissions from viewers. |
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* Constitutional Rights: Audit the Audit explores how law enforcement officers and citizens uphold or infringe upon constitutional rights during encounters. |
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* Police Conduct: The channel evaluates the conduct and behaviour of officers, assessing whether their actions are consistent with established law enforcement standards and best practices. |
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* Legal Context: Audit the Audit provides legal context and explanations of relevant laws, regulations, and court decisions that pertain to the audited interactions. |
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* Use of Force: The channel scrutinizes the use of force by law enforcement officers, including whether it is proportional and in line with departmental policies. |
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* Transparency and Accountability: Audit the Audit emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement and public official interactions. |
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The commentary normally pauses the footage to explain what is happening. It may discuss whether an officer had reasonable suspicion, whether a detention was lawful, whether a person was required to identify themselves, whether force was justified, or whether a public employee handled filming properly. |
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== Impact and Reception == |
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Audit the Audit has gained a substantial following on YouTube and other social media platforms. The channel's content has sparked discussions about law enforcement practices, accountability, and the rights of citizens during interactions with public officials. Viewers appreciate the thorough analysis and legal insights provided by the channel's creator, which contribute to a better understanding of the complexities of law enforcement encounters. |
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== First Amendment Audits == |
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Many videos overlap with the First Amendment audit genre. In the United States, these audits involve people filming in public or publicly accessible spaces to test how officials respond to recording, questioning and refusal to provide identification. |
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The channel's content has also led to discussions among law enforcement professionals, legal experts, and the general public about the appropriate conduct of officers and the rights of citizens. Some law enforcement agencies have even used the content as training material to promote better practices and enhance officer-community relations. |
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Legal guidance on this subject is not always simple. The University of North Carolina School of Government notes that the United States Supreme Court has not issued a single broad ruling covering all filming of public officials, but several federal appeals courts have recognised a First Amendment right to record police carrying out duties in public. |
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== Criticisms and Controversies == |
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While Audit the Audit has garnered a supportive audience, it has also faced criticism from some quarters. Critics have raised concerns about the potential for videos to be selectively edited or misinterpreted, leading to biased portrayals of law enforcement encounters. Additionally, questions have been raised about the auditors' motivations and the potential impact of their actions on public safety and police-community relations. |
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== Approach == |
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Audit the Audit is not simply a reposting channel. Its format depends on explanation. A typical video identifies the key legal issue, shows the relevant part of the encounter, then explains why a particular action may have been lawful, unlawful, wise or unwise. |
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This makes the channel different from raw police-footage channels and from ordinary auditor channels. Its audience usually watches for the legal breakdown as much as for the confrontation itself. |
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== Reception == |
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The channel has gained a large audience because police encounters are easy to share and often raise clear questions about rights, authority and public conduct. A 2025 East Lansing Info report noted that an Audit the Audit video analysing an East Lansing police interaction had received nearly two million views. |
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The channel is also part of a wider debate around audit content. Supporters see this type of analysis as useful public education. Critics of the audit genre argue that some encounters are edited, confrontational or designed to provoke a response for online attention. |
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== See Also == |
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* [[Auditing_Britain]] |
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* [[YouTube]] |
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* [[Citizen journalism]] |
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* [[Police accountability]] |
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== References == |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit YouTube: Audit the Audit] |
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* [https://eastlansinginfo.news/first-amendment-audit-of-elpd-draws-widespread-attention-online/ East Lansing Info: First Amendment Audit of ELPD Draws Widespread Attention Online] |
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* [https://canons.sog.unc.edu/blog/2022/11/14/responding-to-first-amendment-audits-is-filming-protected-by-the-first-amendment/ UNC School of Government: Responding to First Amendment Audits] |
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* [https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/reports/2022-11-09%2020220124%20LGLB%20141.pdf UNC School of Government: Responding to First Amendment Audits in the Local Government Context] |
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[[Category:YouTube]] |
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[[Category:Law enforcement]] |