92

Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
Part 5 — Equipment interference

113

Confidential journalistic material

(1)

This section applies if an application is made for a warrant under this Part and
the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the warrant—
(a) in the case of a targeted equipment interference warrant, to authorise or
require interference with equipment for the purpose of obtaining
communications or other items of information which the applicant for
the warrant believes will be communications or other items of
information containing confidential journalistic material, or
(b) in the case of a targeted examination warrant, to authorise the selection
for examination of journalistic material which the applicant for the
warrant believes is confidential journalistic material.

(2)

The application must contain a statement that the purpose, or one of the
purposes, of the warrant is—
(a) in the case of a targeted equipment interference warrant, to authorise or
require interference with equipment for the purpose of obtaining
communications or other items of information which the applicant for
the warrant believes will be communications or other items of
information containing confidential journalistic material, or
(b) in the case of a targeted examination warrant, to authorise the selection
for examination of journalistic material which the applicant for the
warrant believes is confidential journalistic material.

(3)

The person to whom the application is made may issue the warrant only if the
person considers that the arrangements made for the purposes of section 129
or (as the case may be) section 191 (safeguards relating to retention and
disclosure of material) include specific arrangements for the handling,
retention, use and destruction of communications or other items of
information containing confidential journalistic material.

(4)

For the meaning of “journalistic material” and “confidential journalistic
material”, see section 264.

114

Sources of journalistic information

(1)

This section applies if an application is made for a warrant under this Part and
the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the warrant is to identify or confirm a
source of journalistic information.
(For the meaning of “source of journalistic information”, see section 263(1).)

(2)

The application must contain a statement that the purpose, or one of the
purposes, of the warrant is to identify or confirm a source of journalistic
information.

(3)

The person to whom the application is made may issue the warrant only if the
person considers that the arrangements made for the purposes of section 129
or (as the case may be) section 191 (safeguards relating to retention and
disclosure of material) include specific arrangements for the handling,
retention, use and destruction of communications or other items of
information that identify sources of journalistic information.

Select target paragraph3