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 environmental activists and critics, according to reports from the Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald. Targets included documentary filmmaker Brent Fannin and activist Katrina Shadix, who had successfully sued the state over manatee die-offs. Records show FWC employees accessed Shadix's driving records 17 times between 2023 and 2025, often on days after individuals publicly criticized the agency. The searches were labeled 'Criminal Investigation.' An FWC spokesperson denied misuse of authority but declined to provide evidence of specific threats. The incident has raised concerns of First Amendment retaliation, with critics pointing to a pattern of such behavior under Governor Ron DeSantis' administration, including a recent case where a 77-year-old veteran was investigated for sending a critical postcard to a state official.