Florida Wildlife Agency Tracked Critics Using Law Enforcement Database
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) secretly used the state's Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID) to investigate at least 16 critics, including environmental activists and an elected official. The Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald reported that FWC employees accessed records of individuals who publicly opposed agency policies, such as bear hunts and gopher tortoise protection. Searches often occurred shortly after critics spoke out online or in public, with the reason listed as 'Criminal Investigation.' An FWC spokesperson denied weaponizing law enforcement authority but cited threat assessments. The incident has raised concerns of First Amendment retaliation, adding to a pattern of alleged government overreach in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis.
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