Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Do not reform rules on unauthorised disclosure of material by journalists
Closed
32 signatures
What the petition asks
The proposed overhaul of the Official Secrets Act could mean journalists could be imprisoned for up to 14 years for publishing classified information which embarrasses the government. This would equate public interest journalism with espionage.
Despite professing a commitment to freedom of speech, proposals like this mean Britain is increasingly becoming a hostile country for journalists. We need look no further than our notoriously restrictive libel laws.
The new developments could make it illegal to reveal things of significant public interest, and would be an assault on the fundamental tenets of a free society. We must not allow the Government to make free and open reporting more difficult.
The new developments could make it illegal to reveal things of significant public interest, and would be an assault on the fundamental tenets of a free society. We must not allow the Government to make free and open reporting more difficult.
Timeline
| 6 Aug 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 6 Feb 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
32
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
6 Aug 2021
Closed
6 Feb 2022
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.