Petition · Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Hold newspaper editors legally responsible for dangerous inaccuracies published

Closed 94 signatures

What the petition asks

Introduce legal penalties specifically for newspaper editors for publishing inaccurate information that places the public or democratic process at risk.
Currently we think only personal libel carries any kind of deterrent for media bodies and there isn't sufficient penalties for disinformation. We think that with increasing attacks on democracy worldwide and influence of bad faith foreign interests in the UK press it is in the interests of national security and individual safety to hold the press accountable for accuracy in a way that will actually have an impact on editorial choices.

Timeline

9 Apr 2025 Petition opened for signatures
9 Oct 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 94
Status Closed
Department Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Opened 9 Apr 2025
Closed 9 Oct 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 14 Aug 2026.