Definition of "overreaction"

The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.

2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly‎, volume 188, number 2, page 3

In most cases, this overreaction to terrorism poses a far greater threat to our security than the terrorists themselves.

2018, Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century