Make publishing false clickbait headlines a specific offence

Closed 94 signatures

What the petition asks

I want the government to act against news outlets that publish false online headlines purely for clickbait. Inexperienced journalists spreading misleading stories cause real harm. I think there should be a way for the public to report this and for outlets to face fines when caught.

I want the government to introduce strict measures to stop news outlets from publishing false or misleading online headlines that exist purely for clickbait. These tactics, which may be used by inexperienced journalists, can spread lies, damage reputations, and create harmful consequences for the public. I believe there should be a clear system where people can report such cases, and serious fines should be imposed on outlets that are caught misleading readers, to ensure higher standards in journalism.

Timeline

2 Oct 2025	Petition opened for signatures
2 Apr 2026	Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 94

Status Closed

Department Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Opened 2 Oct 2025

Closed 2 Apr 2026

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