Telecommunications Act 1984

Telecommunications Act 1984

• Communications Act 2003
• https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/12/contents
• wikipedia: Telecommunications Act 1984

Section 94

Section 94 covers "Directions in the interests of national security etc." and allows the Secretary of State to make directions to the providers of public electronic communications networks and to provide payment for them, and if necessary prevent anyone from disclosing this.

In 2015 the Interception of Communications Commissioner was asked to oversee directions on a non-statutory basis.

... challenges stem from the fact that the directions are secret as allowed for by statute, can be given by any Secretary of State and do not automatically expire after a certain period. There does not appear to be a comprehensive central record of the directions that have been issued by the various Secretaries of State.