Part 5: Miscellaneous Equipment interference Section 27: Bulk equipment interference: safeguards for confidential journalistic material etc
This section improves journalistic safeguards within the IPA 2016’s bulk equipment interference regime (Section 195).
	It will replace the existing Section 195 IPA provisions with a requirement for prior independent authorisation by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner before criteria can be used to select material for examination (from that acquired under a bulk equipment interference warrant) for the purpose of finding confidential journalistic material or finding or identifying a source of journalistic information, or where the finding or identifying of such material is highly likely.
	The section provides a new urgency process (Section 195A) for dealing with requests which need to be approved out of hours, for authorisations to use criteria to select material for examination. These authorisations will be undertaken by a senior official (under Section 195(2)) rather than the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and will be subject to subsequent judicial authorisation as soon as reasonably practicable.
	The section also provides a consequential amendment to section 229(8) of the IPA 2016 which includes references to the new functions of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner in sections 195 and 195A to ensure consistency within the IPA.