The Society of Editors has shared fears that “legitimate journalistic content” could be affected by planned online safety legislation.

The Society has raised concerns after the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee warned the draft Online Safety Bill could prompt “excessive take-downs” of content due to the threat of fines.

The bill proposes to fine platforms up to 10pc of their annual turnover or face having their services blocked if they fail to protect users and enforce their terms and conditions.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries previously pledged to look at a full exemption for news publishers from the scope of the legislation.

Responding to the DCMS Committee report, SoE chief executive Dawn Alford, pictured, said: “The Society welcomes the DCMS select committee’s acknowledgement in the report that, at present, the draft Online Safety Bill is insufficient to protect freedom of expression.

“As the Society has previously outlined in evidence to the Joint Committee that has also scrutinised the bill, a broad and workable exemption for journalistic content must be included in the legislation and measures must be put in place by platforms to ensure that broad-brush algorithms do not result in the take-down of legitimate journalistic content.

“We also call on the government to look more closely at the appeals process to ensure that it works in practice and that it recognises the fast nature of today’s news process.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told Sky News: “We do not agree with the criticism of the Committee.

“The bill has strict measures, including a duty of care to stamp out child sexual abuse, grooming and illegal and harmful content.

“There are also stringent rules to make sure tech firms and Ofcom protect people’s free speech and privacy, so content is not taken down without good reason.

“The bill will make the UK the safest place to go online while protecting freedom of speech.”