{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984/section-44",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984/section-44.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1984/12",
  "legislation_title": "Telecommunications Act 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/telecommunications-act-1984",
  "path": "section/44",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "44",
  "heading": "Modification etc. of messages.",
  "text": "(1) A person engaged in the running of a public telecommunication system who otherwise than in the course of his duty intentionally modifies or interferes with the contents of a message sent by means of that system shall be guilty of an offence.\n(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;\n(b) 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      "text": "Ss. 44-46 repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 63(1), Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 17 para. 63(2)(3), Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Note 1); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/12/section/44",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:04:22.261665+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."
}