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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

UK spying laws could result in overreach and real harm, says review

Police outside parliament
Police and prosecutors would have to exercise discretion in cases such as the potential impact of the new offence of foreign interference, Hall said. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

Espionage offences in the UK’s new National Security Act are so broadly defined that they “will result in cases of real harm” with people wrongly investigated, according to the first review of state threats legislation.

Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer appointed by the home secretary, said the 2023 law had to be monitored against “misuse and overreach” because it could extend into politics, journalism, protest and other day-to-day activity.

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