
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 50USC403-7]

 
                   TITLE 50--WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                      CHAPTER 15--NATIONAL SECURITY
 
            SUBCHAPTER I--COORDINATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
 
Sec. 403-7. Prohibition on using journalists as agents or assets


(a) Policy

    It is the policy of the United States that an element of the 
Intelligence Community may not use as an agent or asset for the purposes 
of collecting intelligence any individual who--
        (1) is authorized by contract or by the issuance of press 
    credentials to represent himself or herself, either in the United 
    States or abroad, as a correspondent of a United States news media 
    organization; or
        (2) is officially recognized by a foreign government as a 
    representative of a United States media organization.

(b) Waiver

    Pursuant to such procedures as the President may prescribe, the 
President or the Director of Central Intelligence may waive subsection 
(a) of this section in the case of an individual if the President or the 
Director, as the case may be, makes a written determination that the 
waiver is necessary to address the overriding national security interest 
of the United States. The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 
the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of 
the Senate shall be notified of any waiver under this subsection.

(c) Voluntary cooperation

    Subsection (a) of this section shall not be construed to prohibit 
the voluntary cooperation of any person who is aware that the 
cooperation is being provided to an element of the United States 
Intelligence Community.

(Pub. L. 104-293, title III, Sec. 309, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3467.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1997, and not as part of the National Security Act of 
1947 which comprises this chapter.
