{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/computer-misuse-act-1990/section-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/computer-misuse-act-1990/section-1.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1990/18",
  "legislation_title": "Computer Misuse Act 1990",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/computer-misuse-act-1990",
  "path": "section/1",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "Unauthorised access to computer material.",
  "text": "(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—\n(a) he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer , or to enable any such access to be secured;\n(b) the access he intends to secure , or to enable to be secured, is unauthorised; and\n(c) he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case.\n(2) The intent a person has to have to commit an offence under this section need not be directed at—\n(a) any particular program or data;\n(b) a program or data of any particular kind; or\n(c) a program or data held in any particular computer.\n(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—\n(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;\n(b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;\n(c) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(1)(a) inserted (S.) (1.10.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(2)(a), 53 (with s. 38(1)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2 (the inserting provision being repealed for E.W.N.I. (1.10.2008) by 2007 c. 27, ss. 61(2), 92, 94, Sch. 14 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(i)(viii))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(1)(b) inserted (S.) (1.10.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(2)(b), 53 (with s. 38(1)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2 (the inserting provision being repealed for E.W.N.I. (1.10.2008) by 2007 c. 27, ss. 61(2), 92, 94, Sch. 14 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(i)(viii))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 1(3) substituted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(3), 53 (with s. 38(2)(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "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"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 1(3)(b) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 7(a); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/18/section/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:43:12.268573+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}