{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/section-172",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/section-172.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2016/25",
  "legislation_title": "Investigatory Powers Act 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016",
  "path": "section/172",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "172",
  "heading": "Safeguards relating to examination of data",
  "text": "(1) For the purposes of section 171 the requirements of this section are met in relation to the communications data obtained under a warrant if—\n(a) any selection of the data for examination is carried out only for the specified purposes (see subsection (2)), and\n(b) the selection of any of the data for examination is necessary and proportionate in all the circumstances.\n(2) The selection of communications data for examination is carried out only for the specified purposes if the data is selected for examination only so far as is necessary for the operational purposes specified in the warrant in accordance with section 161.\n(3) In subsection (2) “specified in the warrant” means specified in the warrant at the time of the selection of the data for examination.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 172 in force at 25.7.2018 by S.I. 2018/873, reg. 2(g) (with reg. 7)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/25/section/172",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:06:02.282680+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}