Espionage Bill

An Espionage Bill (2019) was announced by Sajid Javid in May 2019.

So, I can announce today that we are preparing the way for an Espionage Bill.

This will bring together new and modernised powers, giving our security services the legal authority they need to tackle this threat.

The areas this work will consider includes whether we follow allies in adopting a form of foreign agent registration and how we update our Official Secrets Acts for the 21st century.

Law Commission consultation

In July 2015 the Law Commission was asked by the Cabinet Office to examine the laws around disclosure of government data. In February 2017 the Commission ran a consultation on Protection of Official Data, the final report from which has yet to be released.

• Open Rights Group submission