More than 600 editors, reporters and members of the public have so far signed Press Gazette's petition calling on the Government not to weaken the Freedom of Information Act.

Part of the Hands Off FoI campaign, led by the Society of Editors, and backed by Press Gazette and Holdthefrontpage, the petition urges Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock MP not to allow the FoI Act to be weakened.

The Government’s Independent Commission on Freedom of Information is currently gathering information for a ten-year review of the act. It is widely feared that the commission is the precursor to a move by the Government to weaken FoI by adding new restrictions on the release of information, strengthening the ministerial veto and adding new fees, which the petition describes as a "tax on journalism".