Florida wants its own CIA. That could lead to unchecked domestic surveillance | Seth Stern, Lauren Harper and Bobby Block

A bill to create a state intelligence operation would allow scrutiny based on ‘opinions’ – and could prompt other states to follow “Florida man seeks to create a state counterintelligence unit and claim sweeping surveillance powers over people whose ‘views’ or ‘opinions’ he dislikes.” It’s not nearly as amusing as the usual “Florida man” headline, and it may lead to a blueprint for lawmakers far beyond Florida. If Florida enacts House Bill 945, it will create a national first – CIA-style stru...

By Seth Stern, Lauren Harper and Bobby Block