Petitions/Make Online Defamation and Cyberbullying a specific offence
StatusClosed
Opened8 Dec 2025
Closes8 Jun 2026
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

We ask the Government and Parliament to recognise online defamation, and cyberbullying as a specific offence, given that it can cause real psychological, social, and professional harm.

Online defamation and cyberbullying can destroy reputations, careers, and mental health. We feel that victims often have insufficient protection, while harmful posts can remain public for months. Freedom of expression should not mean freedom to harm. We want the government to create recognise these actions as specific offence(s), with provisions to ensure swifter removal of abusive content so that online spaces are safe and governed by respect and responsibility.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Mike Martin
1Mike Martin MP
Tunbridge Wells
5
Tom Tugendhat
2Tom Tugendhat MP
Tonbridge
3
Margaret Mullane
3Margaret Mullane MP
Dagenham and Rainham
2
Sarah Sackman
4Sarah Sackman MP
Finchley and Golders Green
2
Bob Blackman
5Bob Blackman MP
Harrow East
2
Gareth Thomas
6Gareth Thomas MP
Harrow West
2
David Pinto-Duschinsky
7David Pinto-Duschinsky MP
Hendon
2
Laura Trott
8Laura Trott MP
Sevenoaks
2
Steve Darling
9Steve Darling MP
Torbay
2
James Asser
10James Asser MP
West Ham and Beckton
2
Make Online Defamation and Cyberbullying a specific offence — Petitions