This law is going to be abused. We've seen officers trying to use intellectual property to avoid being recorded [1], turn off bodycams [2], or just straight up pepper spraying folks that pull out a cell phone [3]. Recordings cause problems for officers, so if the state gives them an way to prevent it they will use that.

This particular law [4] could be abused in several ways.

1. 8ft is from where "law enforcement activity is occurring". Officers will act assuming that this covers large areas, not just 8ft from the officer themself. Only later will courts get a chance to push back against this.

2. Nothing prevents a police officer walking closer to the person who is recording, pushing away the recording (or forcing them to stop as its now within 8ft.

3. The law says recording is illegal if interfering with the police or unsafe. Again, police will apply this to very wide circumstances.

[1] https://www.techdirt.com/2022/04/18/cops-are-still-playing-c...

[2] https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/officers-across-minnesot...

[3] https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article251249...

[4] https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/laws/0376.htm