Investigatory Powers Act 2016

135 Part 5: interpretation

(1) In this Part—

• “communication” includes—

  (a)

  anything comprising speech, music, sounds, visual images or data of any description, and

  (b)

  signals serving either for the impartation of anything between persons, between a person and a thing or between things or for the actuation or control of any apparatus;

• “equipment” means equipment producing electromagnetic, acoustic or other emissions or any device capable of being used in connection with such equipment;

• “equipment data” has the meaning given by section 100;

• “private information” includes information relating to a person’s private or family life;

• “protected material”, in relation to a targeted examination warrant, has the meaning given by section 99(9);

• “senior official” means—

  (a)

  in the case of a targeted equipment interference warrant which is or may be issued by the Secretary of State or a law enforcement chief, or in the case of a targeted examination warrant which is or may be issued by the Secretary of State, a member of the Senior Civil Service or a member of the Senior Management Structure of Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service;

  (b)

  in the case of a targeted equipment interference warrant or a targeted examination warrant which is or may be issued by the Scottish Ministers, a member of the staff of the Scottish Administration who is a member of the Senior Civil Service;

• “targeted examination warrant” has the meaning given by section 99(9).

(2) See also—

• section 261 (telecommunications definitions),

• section 263 (general definitions),

• section 264 (general definitions: “journalistic material” etc.),

• section 265 (index of defined expressions).