National Security Act
1 min
The UK National Security Act 2023 updates laws against espionage and foreign interference that dated back to the Official Secrets Act 1911. It creates new offenses for obtaining, copying, or disclosing protected information to foreign powers; foreign interference in UK politics and civil society; and sabotage of critical national infrastructure. The Act establishes a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme requiring registration of activities conducted at the direction of foreign powers. It provides new powers to restrict individuals assessed as threats to national security, including prevention and investigation measures. The law responds to evolving state-level threats including cyber operations and covert influence campaigns. For organizations, it increases the legal risks of unauthorized disclosure and may affect partnerships with foreign entities.