5 Misleading messages and interception and disclosure of messages.U.K.
Any person who—
(a)by means of wireless telegraphy, sends or attempts to send, any message which, to his knowledge, is false or misleading and is, to his knowledge, likely to prejudice the efficiency of any safety of life service or endanger the safety of any person or of any vessel, aircraft or vehicle, and, in particular, any message which, to his knowledge, falsely suggests that a vessel or aircraft is in distress or in need of assistance or is not in distress or not in need of assistance; or
(b)otherwise than under the authority of the [F1Secretary of State] or in the course of his duty as a servant of the Crown, either—
(i)uses any wireless telegraphy apparatus with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any message (whether sent by means of wireless telegraphy or not which neither the person using the apparatus nor any person on whose behalf he is acting is authorised by the [F1Secretary of State] to receive; or
(ii)except in the course of legal proceedings or for the purpose of any report thereof, discloses any information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any such message, being information which would not have come to his knowledge but for the use of wireless telegraphy apparatus by him or by another person,
shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48, SIF 96), s. 3(1) and S.I. 1974/691, arts. 2, 3(3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 5(a) amended (as to mode of trial) by Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12, SIF 96) s. 75(1)(a)
C2S. 5(b): certain functions made exercisable (30.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1748, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1
S. 5(b): transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)