Several states, including Minnesota, Iowa and Florida, are considering legislation that would make it a felony for activists and journalists to carry out undercover investigations of agribusiness operations, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Kansas and Montana already have similar laws in place.

What does it all mean? Well, here’s a bit of perspective: One hundred years ago, Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle,” a horrifying exposé of the meatpacking industry, led to the creation of America’s first food and drug regulations. Today, it would land the author in jail. Now that’s progress! –YL