Florida bill would allow students to record professor lectures to use as political bias evidence

The move is aimed at protecting "intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity," defined as the "exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the encouragement of their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives." 

According to the bill, students would be permitted to conduct "free-speech activities", including "all forms of peaceful assembly, protests, and speeches; distributing literature; carrying signs; circulating petitions; faculty research, lectures, writings, and commentary, whether published or unpublished; and the recording and publication, including the Internet publication, of video or audio recorded in outdoor areas of campus." "The State Board of Education may not shield students, faculty, or staff at Florida College System institutions from free speech protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution," the text of the bill adds.  The legislation specificies that the audio and video recordings are for students' "own personal educational use, in connection with a complaint to the public institution of higher education where the recording was made, or as evidence in, or in preparation for, a criminal or civil proceeding."