Section 25: Intelligence gathering

25. Intelligence gathering (1) Notwithstanding any other enactment, the Minister may, for the purpose of the prevention or detection of offences, or the prosecution of offenders, under this Act, give such directions as may be necessary to— (a) communication service providers generally; P27 – 13 [Issue 9] Prevention of Terrorism Act (b) communication service providers of a specified description; (c) any particular communication service provider— (i) not to disclose any data or data of any description; (ii) to retain any data subject to such requirements or restrictions as he may determine. (2) Before giving a direction under this section, the Minister may consult any communication service provider he deems fit to consult. (3) A direction under this section shall specify the maximum period for which a communication service provider may be required not to disclose or retain, as the case may be, communications data. (3A) Any person who fails to comply with a direction issued under this section shall commit an offence. (4) In this section— “communication service provider” means a person who provides a postal, or an information and communication, including telecommunications, service; “data” means information recorded in a form in which it can be processed by equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose. [S. 25 amended by s. 12 of Act 27 of 2016 w.e.f. 9 January 2017.]