Skip to main content

Open petition: Make lying or spreading disinformation in public office a criminal offence

Created by Barbara Maher
Closes on

We want the Government to make it a criminal offence if a person or persons in public office has/have knowingly lied and/or spread disinformation and/or suppressed factual information.

We believe this new criminal offence is required in order to restore ethical standards and integrity given the widespread lying we feel is especially evident in politics, and other public office sectors. Without accountability for such damaging behaviours, prospects seem bleak for democracy, effective government and public trust in national and local government and other public sector actions. We fear that without robust legal accountability, damaging non-adherence to ethical standards will continue to be normalized behaviour in this country.

Sign this petition

28 signatures


Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 16 March 2027.