The News Media Association has said a draft code forcing websites to apply child data protections or use “robust” age-verification tools would “undermine the news media industry” unless amended.

Under safeguards put forward in the Age Appropriate Design code of practice, drafted by the Information Commissioner’s Office, simply asking web visitors to say how old they are is not enough.

The code applies to “information society services”, which extends to news websites and social media platforms, and calls for only a minimum amount of personal data to be collected from children.