UK government considers classifying Google and Facebook as publishers

Culture secretary says internet firms may have legal status changed amid concerns about copyright and extremist material

Karen Bradley, the culture secretary, has said the government is considering changing the legal status of Google, Facebook and other internet companies amid growing concerns about copyright infringement and the spread of extremist material online.

The internet groups are considered conduits of information rather than publishers under UK law, meaning they have limited responsibility for what appears on their sites.