Iowa urged a federal court to block a challenge from animal and environmental advocacy groups over a state law that criminalizes surveillance on trespassed property, claiming the groups failed to show they face immediate harm.
The surveillance law regulates conduct, not speech, as the groups allege in their complaint, the state told the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. And even if the law does regulate speech, it’s not unconstitutional because the groups failed to show it “lacks any plainly legitimate sweep,” the state said in its motion to dismiss filed Oct. 8.
Animal Legal Defense Fund, ...