Censorship fears over plan to keep Channel people-smugglers off social media

Small boats and engines used to cross the Channel at a warehouse facility in Dover. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

A government plan to stop people-smugglers from using social media to advertise small boat crossings across the Channel could result in lawful footage being censored, campaign groups have warned.

Michelle Donelan, the culture secretary, said on Tuesday that she would use the online safety bill to ensure social media companies proactively tackle “TikTok traffickers” or risk fines of up to 10% of turnover, as imposed by Ofcom.