Court Strikes Down Iowa's 'Ag-Gag' Law That Blocked Undercover Investigations

A federal judge in Iowa says it's no longer a crime to go undercover at factory farms, slaughterhouses and any other ag-related operations. The 2012 law was a clear violation of the First Amendment, the judge said.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund, one of the plaintiffs in the case, called the ruling "a win for free speech and animal protection."

"Ag-Gag laws are a pernicious attempt by animal exploitation industries to hide some of the worst forms of animal abuse in the United States," ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells said in a statement. "Today's victory makes it clear that the government cannot protect these industries at the expense of our constitutional rights."

"It was never the intent of farmers to infringe on others' constitutional rights," the Iowa Pork Producers Association said, as reported by the Des Moines Register. "We were relying on the courts to help us protect our rights to lawfully conduct our businesses and care for our animals."