To recognise catfishing as an individual statutory offence.
Introduce legislation addressing harmful online identity deception. The law should recognise when false identities are used to manipulate, exploit or cause harm online, and clarify how such conduct can be prosecuted alongside existing offences such as fraud, sexual offences and harassment.
Signatures
8
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 8/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 8/100,000
- 13 APR 2026Petition rejectedduplicate
You may wish to sign this petition, which calls for similar action: "Make catfishing a specific criminal offence under coercive control laws" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/756069
- 13 MAR 2026Petition created
Background
Catfishing is not currently a specific offence in UK law. Victims must rely on a patchwork of laws, such as fraud or harassment, which address the consequences rather than the deception itself. This creates confusion and gaps in protection, subverting the rule of law as a constitutional principle. Clear legislation would help victims understand their rights, support enforcement, and ensure the law keeps pace with this growing, under-addressed problem as technology and AI advance.