Summary
The National Security Act 2023 modernises the UK's espionage and state threats legislation, replacing much of the Official Secrets Acts 1911-1989. It creates new offences for spying, sabotage, and foreign interference, and establishes a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) requiring registration of political influence activities carried out at the direction of foreign powers.
Key Points
- Part 1 creates offences of obtaining or disclosing protected information (espionage) for or on behalf of a foreign power (ss.1-2)
- Section 3: offence of assisting a foreign intelligence service
- Section 12: offence of sabotage — damaging property for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK
- Section 13: offence of foreign interference — conduct intending to affect UK political processes at the direction of a foreign power
- Part 4: Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) — persons acting at direction of foreign powers in political influence activities must register
- Prevention and investigation measures — State Threats Prevention and Investigation Measures (STPIMs) similar to TPIMs
- Reforms to the Official Secrets Acts — repeals and replaces key provisions of the 1911, 1920, and 1939 Acts