Telecommunications Act 1984

45 Interception and disclosure of messages etc.

(1) A person engaged in the running of a public telecommunication system who otherwise than in the course of his duty—

(a) intentionally intercepts a message sent by means of that system; or

(b) where a message so sent has been intercepted, intentionally discloses to any person the contents of that message,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person engaged in the running of a public telecommunication system who otherwise than in the course of his duty intentionally discloses to any person the contents of any statement of account specifying the telecommunication services provided for any other person by means of that system shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Subsection (1) above does not apply to anything done in obedience to a warrant under the band of the Secretary of State ; and paragraph (b) of that subsection and subsection (2) above do not apply to any disclosure in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.