diff --git a/server/reflector/auth/__init__.py b/server/reflector/auth/__init__.py
index 1abf2fcb..cc90224b 100644
--- a/server/reflector/auth/__init__.py
+++ b/server/reflector/auth/__init__.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ AccessTokenInfo = auth_module.AccessTokenInfo
 authenticated = auth_module.authenticated
 current_user = auth_module.current_user
 current_user_optional = auth_module.current_user_optional
+current_user_optional_if_public_mode = auth_module.current_user_optional_if_public_mode
 parse_ws_bearer_token = auth_module.parse_ws_bearer_token
 current_user_ws_optional = auth_module.current_user_ws_optional
 verify_raw_token = auth_module.verify_raw_token
diff --git a/server/reflector/auth/auth_jwt.py b/server/reflector/auth/auth_jwt.py
index 0b255a63..5d0cbe9b 100644
--- a/server/reflector/auth/auth_jwt.py
+++ b/server/reflector/auth/auth_jwt.py
@@ -129,6 +129,17 @@ async def current_user_optional(
     return await _authenticate_user(jwt_token, api_key, jwtauth)
 
 
+async def current_user_optional_if_public_mode(
+    jwt_token: Annotated[Optional[str], Depends(oauth2_scheme)],
+    api_key: Annotated[Optional[str], Depends(api_key_header)],
+    jwtauth: JWTAuth = Depends(),
+) -> Optional[UserInfo]:
+    user = await _authenticate_user(jwt_token, api_key, jwtauth)
+    if user is None and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
+    return user
+
+
 def parse_ws_bearer_token(
     websocket: "WebSocket",
 ) -> tuple[Optional[str], Optional[str]]:
diff --git a/server/reflector/auth/auth_none.py b/server/reflector/auth/auth_none.py
index b719df6b..a0e235d6 100644
--- a/server/reflector/auth/auth_none.py
+++ b/server/reflector/auth/auth_none.py
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ def current_user_optional():
     return None
 
 
+def current_user_optional_if_public_mode():
+    # auth_none means no authentication at all — always public
+    return None
+
+
 def parse_ws_bearer_token(websocket):
     return None, None
 
diff --git a/server/reflector/auth/auth_password.py b/server/reflector/auth/auth_password.py
index 4c8029d2..45554587 100644
--- a/server/reflector/auth/auth_password.py
+++ b/server/reflector/auth/auth_password.py
@@ -150,6 +150,16 @@ async def current_user_optional(
     return await _authenticate_user(jwt_token, api_key)
 
 
+async def current_user_optional_if_public_mode(
+    jwt_token: Annotated[Optional[str], Depends(oauth2_scheme)],
+    api_key: Annotated[Optional[str], Depends(api_key_header)],
+) -> Optional[UserInfo]:
+    user = await _authenticate_user(jwt_token, api_key)
+    if user is None and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
+    return user
+
+
 # --- WebSocket auth (same pattern as auth_jwt.py) ---
 def parse_ws_bearer_token(
     websocket: "WebSocket",
diff --git a/server/reflector/db/transcripts.py b/server/reflector/db/transcripts.py
index c443d169..e63455d8 100644
--- a/server/reflector/db/transcripts.py
+++ b/server/reflector/db/transcripts.py
@@ -697,6 +697,18 @@ class TranscriptController:
             return False
         return user_id and transcript.user_id == user_id
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def check_can_mutate(transcript: Transcript, user_id: str | None) -> None:
+        """
+        Raises HTTP 403 if the user cannot mutate the transcript.
+
+        Policy:
+        - Anonymous transcripts (user_id is None) are editable by anyone
+        - Owned transcripts can only be mutated by their owner
+        """
+        if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+
     @asynccontextmanager
     async def transaction(self):
         """
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/meetings.py b/server/reflector/views/meetings.py
index b5aef231..1ac76e73 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/meetings.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/meetings.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ from reflector.db.meetings import (
 )
 from reflector.db.rooms import rooms_controller
 from reflector.logger import logger
-from reflector.settings import settings
 from reflector.utils.string import NonEmptyString
 from reflector.video_platforms.factory import create_platform_client
 
@@ -92,15 +91,15 @@ class StartRecordingRequest(BaseModel):
 async def start_recording(
     meeting_id: NonEmptyString,
     body: StartRecordingRequest,
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Start cloud or raw-tracks recording via Daily.co REST API.
 
     Both cloud and raw-tracks are started via REST API to bypass enable_recording limitation of allowing only 1 recording at a time.
     Uses different instanceIds for cloud vs raw-tracks (same won't work)
     """
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
     meeting = await meetings_controller.get_by_id(meeting_id)
     if not meeting:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Meeting not found")
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/rooms.py b/server/reflector/views/rooms.py
index 11e668c0..33ec2061 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/rooms.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/rooms.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from reflector.db.rooms import rooms_controller
 from reflector.redis_cache import RedisAsyncLock
 from reflector.schemas.platform import Platform
 from reflector.services.ics_sync import ics_sync_service
-from reflector.settings import settings
 from reflector.utils.url import add_query_param
 from reflector.video_platforms.factory import create_platform_client
 from reflector.worker.webhook import test_webhook
@@ -178,11 +177,10 @@ router = APIRouter()
 
 @router.get("/rooms", response_model=Page[RoomDetails])
 async def rooms_list(
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ) -> list[RoomDetails]:
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
 
     paginated = await apaginate(
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts.py
index ea75c303..c65c71ec 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts.py
@@ -263,16 +263,15 @@ class SearchResponse(BaseModel):
 
 @router.get("/transcripts", response_model=Page[GetTranscriptMinimal])
 async def transcripts_list(
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
     source_kind: SourceKind | None = None,
     room_id: str | None = None,
     search_term: str | None = None,
     change_seq_from: int | None = None,
     sort_by: Literal["created_at", "change_seq"] | None = None,
 ):
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
 
     # Default behavior preserved: sort_by=None → "-created_at"
@@ -307,13 +306,10 @@ async def transcripts_search(
     from_datetime: SearchFromDatetimeParam = None,
     to_datetime: SearchToDatetimeParam = None,
     user: Annotated[
-        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
     ] = None,
 ):
     """Full-text search across transcript titles and content."""
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
 
     if from_datetime and to_datetime and from_datetime > to_datetime:
@@ -346,11 +342,10 @@ async def transcripts_search(
 @router.post("/transcripts", response_model=GetTranscriptWithParticipants)
 async def transcripts_create(
     info: CreateTranscript,
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ):
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.add(
         info.name,
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_participants.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_participants.py
index eb314eff..78b09e81 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_participants.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_participants.py
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ async def transcript_add_participant(
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
     )
-    if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+    transcripts_controller.check_can_mutate(transcript, user_id)
 
     # ensure the speaker is unique
     if participant.speaker is not None and transcript.participants is not None:
@@ -109,8 +108,7 @@ async def transcript_update_participant(
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
     )
-    if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+    transcripts_controller.check_can_mutate(transcript, user_id)
 
     # ensure the speaker is unique
     for p in transcript.participants:
@@ -148,7 +146,6 @@ async def transcript_delete_participant(
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
     )
-    if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+    transcripts_controller.check_can_mutate(transcript, user_id)
     await transcripts_controller.delete_participant(transcript, participant_id)
     return DeletionStatus(status="ok")
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_process.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_process.py
index af80df43..1f875d58 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_process.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_process.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ from reflector.services.transcript_process import (
     prepare_transcript_processing,
     validate_transcript_for_processing,
 )
-from reflector.settings import settings
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -27,11 +26,10 @@ class ProcessStatus(BaseModel):
 @router.post("/transcripts/{transcript_id}/process")
 async def transcript_process(
     transcript_id: str,
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ) -> ProcessStatus:
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_speaker.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_speaker.py
index 787e554a..fae7501d 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_speaker.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_speaker.py
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ async def transcript_assign_speaker(
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
     )
-    if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+    transcripts_controller.check_can_mutate(transcript, user_id)
 
     if not transcript:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Transcript not found")
@@ -121,8 +120,7 @@ async def transcript_merge_speaker(
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
     )
-    if transcript.user_id is not None and transcript.user_id != user_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Not authorized")
+    transcripts_controller.check_can_mutate(transcript, user_id)
 
     if not transcript:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Transcript not found")
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_upload.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_upload.py
index 165a266a..a3605108 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_upload.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_upload.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel
 import reflector.auth as auth
 from reflector.db.transcripts import SourceKind, transcripts_controller
 from reflector.pipelines.main_file_pipeline import task_pipeline_file_process
-from reflector.settings import settings
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -22,11 +21,10 @@ async def transcript_record_upload(
     chunk_number: int,
     total_chunks: int,
     chunk: UploadFile,
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ):
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
diff --git a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_webrtc.py b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_webrtc.py
index 184949ad..2c222272 100644
--- a/server/reflector/views/transcripts_webrtc.py
+++ b/server/reflector/views/transcripts_webrtc.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Request
 
 import reflector.auth as auth
 from reflector.db.transcripts import transcripts_controller
-from reflector.settings import settings
 
 from .rtc_offer import RtcOffer, rtc_offer_base
 
@@ -16,11 +15,10 @@ async def transcript_record_webrtc(
     transcript_id: str,
     params: RtcOffer,
     request: Request,
-    user: Annotated[Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional)],
+    user: Annotated[
+        Optional[auth.UserInfo], Depends(auth.current_user_optional_if_public_mode)
+    ],
 ):
-    if not user and not settings.PUBLIC_MODE:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Not authenticated")
-
     user_id = user["sub"] if user else None
     transcript = await transcripts_controller.get_by_id_for_http(
         transcript_id, user_id=user_id
diff --git a/server/tests/conftest.py b/server/tests/conftest.py
index e0d6fe90..3542f3e2 100644
--- a/server/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/server/tests/conftest.py
@@ -437,6 +437,8 @@ async def ws_manager_in_memory(monkeypatch):
 
     try:
         fastapi_app.dependency_overrides[auth.current_user_optional] = lambda: None
+        # current_user_optional_if_public_mode is NOT overridden here so the real
+        # implementation runs and enforces the PUBLIC_MODE check during tests.
     except Exception:
         pass
 
@@ -491,37 +493,39 @@ async def authenticated_client2():
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def authenticated_client_ctx():
     from reflector.app import app
-    from reflector.auth import current_user, current_user_optional
+    from reflector.auth import (
+        current_user,
+        current_user_optional,
+        current_user_optional_if_public_mode,
+    )
 
-    app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = lambda: {
-        "sub": "randomuserid",
-        "email": "test@mail.com",
-    }
-    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional] = lambda: {
-        "sub": "randomuserid",
-        "email": "test@mail.com",
-    }
+    _user = lambda: {"sub": "randomuserid", "email": "test@mail.com"}
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = _user
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional] = _user
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional_if_public_mode] = _user
     yield
     del app.dependency_overrides[current_user]
     del app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional]
+    del app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional_if_public_mode]
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def authenticated_client2_ctx():
     from reflector.app import app
-    from reflector.auth import current_user, current_user_optional
+    from reflector.auth import (
+        current_user,
+        current_user_optional,
+        current_user_optional_if_public_mode,
+    )
 
-    app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = lambda: {
-        "sub": "randomuserid2",
-        "email": "test@mail.com",
-    }
-    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional] = lambda: {
-        "sub": "randomuserid2",
-        "email": "test@mail.com",
-    }
+    _user = lambda: {"sub": "randomuserid2", "email": "test@mail.com"}
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = _user
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional] = _user
+    app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional_if_public_mode] = _user
     yield
     del app.dependency_overrides[current_user]
     del app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional]
+    del app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional_if_public_mode]
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
diff --git a/server/tests/test_user_websocket_auth.py b/server/tests/test_user_websocket_auth.py
index c28d9f9b..014f6301 100644
--- a/server/tests/test_user_websocket_auth.py
+++ b/server/tests/test_user_websocket_auth.py
@@ -141,33 +141,19 @@ async def test_user_ws_accepts_valid_token_and_receives_events(appserver_ws_user
         await asyncio.sleep(0.2)
 
         # Emit an event to the user's room via a standard HTTP action
+        # Use a real HTTP request to the server with the JWT token so that
+        # current_user_optional_if_public_mode is exercised without dependency overrides
         from httpx import AsyncClient
 
-        from reflector.app import app
-        from reflector.auth import current_user, current_user_optional
-
-        # Override auth dependencies so HTTP request is performed as the same user
-        # Use the internal user.id (not the Authentik UID)
-        app.dependency_overrides[current_user] = lambda: {
-            "sub": user.id,
-            "email": "user-abc@example.com",
-        }
-        app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional] = lambda: {
-            "sub": user.id,
-            "email": "user-abc@example.com",
-        }
-
-        # Use in-memory client (global singleton makes it share ws_manager)
-        async with AsyncClient(app=app, base_url=f"http://{host}:{port}/v1") as ac:
-            # Create a transcript as this user so that the server publishes TRANSCRIPT_CREATED to user room
-            resp = await ac.post("/transcripts", json={"name": "WS Test"})
+        async with AsyncClient(base_url=f"http://{host}:{port}/v1") as ac:
+            resp = await ac.post(
+                "/transcripts",
+                json={"name": "WS Test"},
+                headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
+            )
             assert resp.status_code == 200
 
         # Receive the published event
         msg = await ws.receive_json()
         assert msg["event"] == "TRANSCRIPT_CREATED"
         assert "id" in msg["data"]
-
-        # Clean overrides
-        del app.dependency_overrides[current_user]
-        del app.dependency_overrides[current_user_optional]