diff --git a/app/api/import_data.py b/app/api/import_data.py
index e6b0e57..e7053b0 100644
--- a/app/api/import_data.py
+++ b/app/api/import_data.py
@@ -2464,6 +2464,43 @@ async def batch_import_csv_files(
 @router.websocket("/batch-progress/ws/{audit_id}")
 async def ws_import_batch_progress(websocket: WebSocket, audit_id: int):
     """WebSocket: subscribe to real-time updates for an import audit using the pool."""
+    # Authenticate first (without accepting) to enforce authorization before subscribing
+    user = await websocket_manager.authenticate_websocket(websocket)
+    if not user:
+        # Authentication failure handled here to avoid accepting unauthorized connections
+        try:
+            await websocket.close(code=4401, reason="Authentication failed")
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return
+
+    # Authorization: only initiating user or admins may subscribe to this audit stream
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        audit = db.query(ImportAudit).filter(ImportAudit.id == audit_id).first()
+        if not audit:
+            try:
+                await websocket.close(code=4404, reason="Batch not found")
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            return
+
+        is_admin = bool(getattr(user, "is_admin", False))
+        if not is_admin and getattr(user, "id", None) != getattr(audit, "initiated_by_user_id", None):
+            import_logger.warning(
+                "Unauthorized WS subscription attempt for import batch",
+                audit_id=audit_id,
+                user_id=getattr(user, "id", None),
+                username=getattr(user, "username", None),
+            )
+            try:
+                await websocket.close(code=4403, reason="Not authorized to subscribe to this batch")
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            return
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
     topic = f"import_batch_progress_{audit_id}"
 
     async def handle_ws_message(connection_id: str, message: WebSocketMessage):