There is no provision for a ‘public interest’ defense in the act, which means writers or anyone who publishes material deemed illegal cannot defend themselves with the argument that the information they hold is of value to the public.

A law passed in the United Kingdom threatens to criminalize journalists who investigate matters of national security. Its sweeping new measures, including the power of arrest without warrant and the imposition of draconian penalties, criminalize the spreading of “disinformation” as part of the bill’s definition of threats to national security.

The National Security Act 2023 updates the U.K.’s previous legislation on espionage and sabotage. It came into effect on December 20, bringing into force the power to imprison for life anyone convicted of “obtaining or disclosing protected information.” “Whistleblowers, journalists and publishers focusing on national security related matters may be most at risk of being prosecuted,” said Elmazi, pointing out the reach of the act could include “any person who ‘copies,’ ‘retains,’ ‘discloses,’ ‘distributes’ or ‘provides access to’ so called protected information” as liable for prosecution.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/analysis/press-freedom-under-threat-as-uk-national-security-act-could-put-journalists-in-jail/?