Peers have rejected a legal attempt to stop journalists inadvertently falling foul of new anti-spying laws amid reassurances from the government that reporting would be protected.
Lord Sharpe of Epsom, a Home Office minister, said it would be “almost inconceivable” for “genuine journalism” to be caught by the National Security Bill, which returned to the House of Lords. The bill, which is designed to update espionage laws, has been criticised for creating a “chilling” effect on journalism because of fears that some reporting could be deemed as helpful to hostile states.
But Sharpe said: “I want to reassure the media sector that the publication of an article that was critical of the UK government, and which might be capable of assisting a foreign intelligence
