. >> wayne pacelle the head of the society says such undercover videos have been the key to tough newnti-cruelty laws like this video which revealed the use of deceased cows for beef sold to consumers. >> this led to the largest meat recall in american history. >> and this one which exposed cruelty and unsanitary conditions at major pork producers. >> the only reason this has been of interest is because the footage is so shocking. the cruelty is so revolting, the sanitary conditions are so pauling. that's what has trigger this had response. >> reporter: but now all of that could be coming to an end. under pressure from the agriculture industry, at least five states now have laws making it a crime to go under cover on farm properties to record videos. and many other states are considering it. the law passed in utah last year has legislators called and amal rights groups terrorists and the enemy. >> vegetarian people trying to kill the animal industry. >> this is about a group of people that want to put us out of business. make no mistake about it. >> in iowa, the law passed just a few

wayne pacelle, the head of the humane society says such undercover videos have been the key to tough, new anticruelty law. >> this video led to the largest meat recall in american history. >> reporter: and this one which exposed cruelty and unsanitary conditions at major pork producers. but all of that could be coming to an end. under pressure from the agriculture industry, at least five states now have laws making it a crime to go undercover on farm properties to record videos. in iowa, the law passed just a few months after an abc news report which won a genesis award, featuring undercover footage at a huge iowa egg factory, taped by the group mercy for animals. >> if somebody come on somebody else's property through fraud or deception or lying, that is a serious violation of people's rights. >> reporter: and agriculture lobbying groups have used influence and money to try to expand the ban. as part of the effort, they cite what happened to dairy farmers in idaho. an undercover investigator got a job at the huge dairy corporation last year and made these disturbing videos of fellow