Part 4Foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme
Political influence activities of foreign powers
72Requirement to register political influence activities of foreign powers
1
A person who holds office in or under, or is an employee or other member of staff of, a foreign power must not carry out political influence activities in the United Kingdom in that capacity if or to the extent that—
a
the person makes a misrepresentation about their activities or the capacity in which they act (whether generally or to a particular person), and
b
the activities are not registered with the Secretary of State by the foreign power.
2
Where the foreign power is a specified person, the prohibition in subsection (1) does not apply to the extent that the political influence activities are relevant activities for the purposes of section 68.
3
A misrepresentation is a representation that a reasonable person would consider to be false or misleading in a material way.
4
A misrepresentation may be made by making a statement or by any other kind of conduct (including an omission), and may be express or implied.
5
A misrepresentation may in particular include—
a
a misrepresentation as to the person’s identity or purpose;
b
presenting information in a way which amounts to a misrepresentation, even if some or all of the information is true.
6
7
In proceedings for an offence under subsection (6) it is a defence to show that the person—
a
took all steps reasonably practicable to determine whether the activities were registered, and
b
reasonably believed that the activities were registered.
8
A person is taken to have shown a matter mentioned in subsection (7) if—
a
sufficient evidence of the matter is adduced to raise an issue with respect to it, and
b
the contrary is not proved beyond reasonable doubt.