Government and public statistics
Investigatory Powers Act 2016, section 3: Offence of unlawful interception
UK Parliament, legislation.gov.uk, 2016
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- The UK offence of intercepting a communication in the course of its transmission without lawful authority.
- How much weight it carries
- Official UK legislation text. The page notes amendments made by a 2026 Act. The offence is written around interception during transmission, so it does not describe a participant recording a call as such.
Facts taken from this source
- Under the UK Investigatory Powers Act 2016, it is an offence to intentionally intercept a communication in the course of its transmission without lawful authority.
“intentionally intercepts a communication in the course of its transmission” (s.3(1)(a))