The death of former "Love Island" host Caroline Flack spurred the initiative. The 40 year old star was found dead by suicide in her London apartment on February 15.

Flack was set to face trial on March 4 on assault charges following a domestic dispute with boyfriend Lewis Burton. Flack denied all allegations.

"The headlines, harassment and trial by media has to end and they must be held accountable," reads the petition, which was created by user Joshua Anthony and addressed to Oliver Dowden, the UK's newly installed culture secretary.

The treatment of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are also cited in the petition, which has a goal of 300,000 signatures.

There's been negative coverage of Flack in the British tabloids for months. The Sun posted a news piece as recently as Friday about a Valentine's Day card mocking the presenter's alleged assault of Burton, but that article is no longer available on its website.

"Caroline's Law" has also been trending on Twitter in the UK, with users calling for a new law preventing libellous coverage by the press.

The Leveson Inquiry launched in 2011 after the phone hacking scandal that led to the downfall of the News of the World paper recommended a new, legally recognised media regulator - the formation of which is still in process.

Tributes have poured in for Flack overnight, with "Call the Midwife" star Miranda Hunt sharing a post on Twitter discussing media accountability.

"A celebrity status does not mean immunity from feeling and suffering. In fact, it is obviously something that comes with a degree of responsibility and vulnerability. It is not in any circumstances in the public interest to report that someone is looking tired, or fat, or thin, or a mess or ill," wrote Hart.

Australian Associated Press