Petition · past parliament
Require Ofcom to withdraw “Broadcast standards during the coronavirus pandemic"
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Require that Ofcom removes “Broadcast standards during the coronavirus pandemic" with immediate effect.
DCMS must ensure there are clear guidelines to Ofcom, that it is unacceptable for any broadcast standards, to contain restrictions on criticising the government.
DCMS must ensure there are clear guidelines to Ofcom, that it is unacceptable for any broadcast standards, to contain restrictions on criticising the government.
Guidelines from May 2020 restrict “statements that seek to question or undermine the advice of public health bodies on the Coronavirus, or otherwise undermine people’s trust in the advice of mainstream sources of information about the disease”. This restricts experts & whistleblowers from criticizing government policy, even if it is harmful.
These guidelines have made it difficult for victims of vaccine injuries to make their stories heard & they deserve a voice.
These guidelines have made it difficult for victims of vaccine injuries to make their stories heard & they deserve a voice.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.
Decisions about issuing guidance in relation to how broadcasters meet the Broadcasting Code are a matter for Ofcom, which is operationally independent of the UK Government and Parliament.
In any case, the guidance Ofcom produced for broadcasters during the pandemic provided advice to broadcasters, it did not introduce new restrictions on broadcast content.
The section of the guidance you cite in part says:
"[W]e strongly advise you to take particular care when broadcasting, for example [...] statements that seek to question or undermine the advice of public health bodies on the Coronavirus, or otherwise undermine people’s trust in the advice of mainstream sources of information about the disease".
The full note produced by Ofcom is available here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/195873/Note-to-broadcasters-Coronavirus-update.pdf
Decisions about issuing guidance in relation to how broadcasters meet the Broadcasting Code are a matter for Ofcom, which is operationally independent of the UK Government and Parliament.
In any case, the guidance Ofcom produced for broadcasters during the pandemic provided advice to broadcasters, it did not introduce new restrictions on broadcast content.
The section of the guidance you cite in part says:
"[W]e strongly advise you to take particular care when broadcasting, for example [...] statements that seek to question or undermine the advice of public health bodies on the Coronavirus, or otherwise undermine people’s trust in the advice of mainstream sources of information about the disease".
The full note produced by Ofcom is available here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/195873/Note-to-broadcasters-Coronavirus-update.pdf
Timeline
| 7 Feb 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 8 Feb 2023 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
8 Feb 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.