Under plans being considered by ministers, a new regulator could remove firms from search engines and issue “substantial” fines if companies fail to remove terrorist propaganda and child abuse content. The Channel 4 News host claimed the UK will not have any more effect than it has now once it leaves the European Union post-Brexit on imposing new regulations and restrictions on social media companies. 

Mr Snow said: “We’re dealing with massive entities like Google and Facebook. When Mr Zuckerberg was called before the DCMS he didn’t come.

“He did go before the European Union and on wonders whether after Brexit we’d have any more effect anyway.”

But the Government Minister for Digital and the Creative promptly dismissed the news host’s claim and pointed out Brexit would bring the opportunity to speed up the process of introducing new domestic laws.

She said: “The priority is that we get our own laws and regulations through Parliament.

“Establish the regulator, give it the power it needs and in terms of what happens in the UK under UK law, we can hold these companies to account.

Under UK law we can hold these companies to account

Margot James

“Of course, if we can see action on a wider European footing that is all to the good.

“But, of course, that takes even longer, as I’m sure you’ll appreciate, to get the agreement among 28 – soon to be 27 – member states.

“And in fact, the directives at the moment, if anything, hold us back.

“So I think that we can take effective action as a single country.”

Social media platforms, forums, file hosting sites and search engines will have a legal duty of care to users under plans considered as part of a 12-week consultation.

Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright said: “The era of self-regulation for online companies is over.

“Our proposals for new laws will help make sure everyone can enjoy the internet safely.”

Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her life after viewing disturbing content online in 2017, said the move would “shine a light on this hidden and harmful part of the internet”.

He added: “I am pleased to see the Government putting into action its promise to hold tech companies to account.”

Facebook UK’s Rebecca Stimson said the company had tripled the number of people it employed to identify illegal content but admitted there was “much more to do”.

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