Computer Misuse Act 1990

[^key-677590b7135400ec50a55f3f6bcc121b]: S. 5(3A) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 43(5), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(c)

[^key-27fd82684b61afad95c91200eb4a0bb6]: Words in s. 6(1) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 10(3) (with s. 86(6)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)

[^key-91e841d3e37b238b6ff7375e5107959d]: Words in s. 6(2) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 10(4) (with s. 86(6)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)

[^key-4c12f52e42028b45b36ba51d0419e9c4]: Words in s. 9(2)(a) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 11(3); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)

[^key-48667264608443257dc744675a347760]: Words in s. 9(1) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 11(2); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)

[^key-8269e7efce1ec2f56dbddea780292b36]: Words in s. 9(2)(c) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 11(4); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)

[^key-3bb34d4092669e5c2cb96f2da0b5c612]: Words in s. 10 substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(2)(a), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-4a2fc752e4f9821da2616e9301e421ee]: Words in s. 10 substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(2)(d), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-56953844113433b40211eaa4749d76c7]: Words in s. 10 substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(2)(e), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-e7b1ae0de6c7baafcd0b31862393c196]: Words in s. 10(a) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(2)(b), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-aca5cd220f1b350829789846d6185c26]: Words in s. 10(b) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(2)(c), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-e9f3048a8462fa8ab5e2566938635305]: S. 13(2A)(2B) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 43(6), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(c)

[^key-6270593d71502a618cd8668f927e7e7b]: S. 13(10A) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 43(7), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(c)

[^key-8d5ae0a20c910b2541fd26f3d92b2a80]: S. 16(9A) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 44(3), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(d)

[^key-973120fe8be98c61aa292f3d2a639319]: Words in s. 1(3)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-e50065cc92f4fbf540be90167ab6efcf]: Words in s. 2(5)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-9885632a35bf64ec7a7296e4a5baebec]: Words in s. 3(6)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-1ff7364e0ca8ce39ef6b006bb0c02b34]: Words in s. 3A(5)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-fd363f069285056a78f182d6ffe7ecef]: Words in s. 16(1A)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-f6daf41f618e402019fd9ef4046e8c1d]: Words in s. 16(2A)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-8a8a29e719b4a45a18d683aef28a0caa]: Words in s. 16(3A)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

[^key-e13a4cea4aca525235e30233f697dcf3]: Words in s. 16(3B)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

Territorial scope of offences under sections 1 to 3.

Unauthorised acts causing, or creating risk of, serious damage

3ZA

• (1) A person is guilty of an offence if—

• (a) the person does any unauthorised act in relation to a computer;

• (b) at the time of doing the act the person knows that it is unauthorised;

• (c) the act causes, or creates a significant risk of, serious damage of a material kind; and

• (d) the person intends by doing the act to cause serious damage of a material kind or is reckless as to whether such damage is caused.

• (2) Damage is of a “material kind” for the purposes of this section if it is—

• (a) damage to human welfare in any place;

• (b) damage to the environment of any place;

• (c) damage to the economy of any country; or

• (d) damage to the national security of any country.

• (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) an act causes damage to human welfare only if it causes—

• (a) loss to human life;

• (b) human illness or injury;

• (c) disruption of a supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel;

• (d) disruption of a system of communication;

• (e) disruption of facilities for transport; or

• (f) disruption of services relating to health.

• (4) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (2) whether or not an act causing damage—

• (a) does so directly;

• (b) is the only or main cause of the damage.

• (5) In this section—

• (a) a reference to doing an act includes a reference to causing an act to be done;

• (b) “act” includes a series of acts;

• (c) a reference to a country includes a reference to a territory, and to any place in, or part or region of, a country or territory.

• (6) A person guilty of an offence under this section is (unless subsection (7) applies) liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to a fine, or to both.

• (7) Where an offence under this section is committed as a result of an act causing or creating a significant risk of—

• (a) serious damage to human welfare of the kind mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b), or

• (b) serious damage to national security,

a person guilty of the offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life, or to a fine, or to both.

Territorial scope of offences under this Act.

Proceedings for offences under section 1.

Interpretation.

Citation, commencement etc.