Proposed Registration Requirements For UK Foreign Influence Activities

The UK government has proposed new registration requirements for foreign influence activities in the UK as part of its attempts to strengthen the resilience of the UK's political system and democratic institutions against covert foreign influence. Such requirements will become a feature of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme ("FIRS"), which was introduced in Parliament via amendments to the National Security Bill (the "Bill") on 18 October 2022. Although the Bill has yet to become law, if it receives Parliament's approval and royal assent, it will significantly change the UK's espionage laws and will bring the UK in line with jurisdictions such as Australia and the United States, which already have foreign influence registration schemes.