The British government announced today, Wednesday, that the fundamental measures set by the National Security Act, which was passed last July, have come into effect to counter electronic espionage against the country.
British Home Secretary James Cleverly said, according to the official website of the British government, “There are foreign forces that have shown their readiness to threaten the United Kingdom and our freedoms, so the new measures will be extremely important in helping police and intelligence partners make it more difficult for them, thus making our country safer.”
The British Home Secretary added, “We will always do everything possible to protect the United Kingdom.”
According to the British government, the new measures provide specific powers to help law enforcement take action against those who act on behalf of foreign states against the United Kingdom and its interests, and to gather evidence in relation to them. For example, those who assist a foreign power by distributing information obtained illegally through electronic espionage.
The new authorities include enhanced powers for arrest and detention and the authority of modern search orders containing improved safeguards.
Other authorities from the National Security Act are set to come into effect at a later stage, including the foreign influence registration scheme, which aims to enhance the resilience of the UK’s political system against covert foreign influence, and is expected to come into effect in 2024.
In turn, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said, “The National Security Act is the most significant reform in espionage law in a century and demonstrates that the government will always work to protect the UK from threats to our security, prosperity, and interests.”
He added, “State threats pose a evolving challenge, and the new crimes and authorities in the National Security Act will ensure that our intelligence services and law enforcement have the tools they need to confront them.”
