Are individuals legally required to answer questions from protective security officers?

Individuals are not legally required to answer questions from protective security officers unless there is a specific legal mandate or authority invoking such an obligation, like a law enforcement officer under certain circumstances. Protective security officers, while trained to handle security situations, do not have the same legal authority as law enforcement officers. As a result, individuals can choose whether or not to respond to their inquiries. The focus of a protective security officer is to ensure safety and security, but they do not possess the power to compel answers from individuals in the same way that police officers can in certain situations. Therefore, the understanding that the obligation to answer such questions is not enforced aligns with the idea that personal freedom and rights to remain silent are respected in these contexts.