Petition · past parliament
Criminalise the publication of unfounded false statements by the media
Closed
570 signatures
What the petition asks
Any UK media article that makes claims related to public safety and welfare should be based on firm and objective evidence. If an article makes false statements without a basis on firm and objective evidence, it should be deemed criminal.
During the recent worldwide Covid 19 outbreak, publications by many media outlets worldwide have stoked the fears and anxieties of the general public, arguably leading to widespread panic, market instability and other negative consequences.
This has arguably blown the crisis out of proportion and caused unnecessary harm to public morale, security and general welfare. Panic does not help anyone at a time like this, except those who wish to gain from the suffering of others.
This has arguably blown the crisis out of proportion and caused unnecessary harm to public morale, security and general welfare. Panic does not help anyone at a time like this, except those who wish to gain from the suffering of others.
Timeline
| 26 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 26 Sep 2020 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
570
Status
Closed
Opened
26 Mar 2020
Closed
26 Sep 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.