Online Safety Act 2023

Powers exercisable by warrant

7 An authorised person executing a warrant may do any of the following for the purposes of OFCOM’s investigation into whether there is, or has been, a failure referred to in paragraph 5(1)(b)(i)—

(a) enter the premises specified in the warrant;

(b) search the premises;

(c) inspect any documents or equipment found on the premises, or any information capable of being viewed using equipment or a device on the premises;

(d) require any person on the premises to provide information, including requiring an explanation of any document found on the premises or any information capable of being viewed using equipment or a device on the premises;

(e) require any person on the premises to produce any document in the person’s possession or control;

(f) take copies of any document found on the premises or produced in response to a requirement under paragraph (e);

(g) require information which is stored in electronic form and may be accessed from the premises to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible (or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible form);

(h) operate any equipment found on the premises for the purposes of producing such information in such a form;

(i) require any person on the premises to give the authorised person any assistance that the authorised person may reasonably require (including for the purposes of paragraphs (g) and (h));

(j) take copies of anything produced in accordance with paragraph (g);

(k) seize any document found on the premises or produced in response to a requirement under paragraph (e), or anything produced in accordance with paragraph (g), or any equipment found on the premises;

(l) open any container found on the premises;

(m) take a photograph or video recording of anything found on the premises.