ELIZABETH II

c. 25

Investigatory Powers Act 2016
2016 CHAPTER 25
An Act to make provision about the interception of communications,
equipment interference and the acquisition and retention of communications
data, bulk personal datasets and other information; to make provision about
the treatment of material held as a result of such interception, equipment
interference or acquisition or retention; to establish the Investigatory Powers
Commissioner and other Judicial Commissioners and make provision about
them and other oversight arrangements; to make further provision about
investigatory powers and national security; to amend sections 3 and 5 of the
Intelligence Services Act 1994; and for connected purposes.
[29th November 2016]

B

by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
E IT ENACTED

PART 1
GENERAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
Overview and general privacy duties
1

Overview of Act
(1)

This Act sets out the extent to which certain investigatory powers may be used
to interfere with privacy.

(2)

This Part imposes certain duties in relation to privacy and contains other
protections for privacy.

(3)

These other protections include offences and penalties in relation to—
(a) the unlawful interception of communications, and
(b) the unlawful obtaining of communications data.

Select target paragraph3