The government is considering creating an online safety commissioner with powers to fine and investigate social media giants, a minister has revealed.

Baroness Williams of Trafford, the Home Office Minister for Countering Extremism, said the department was looking at Australia’s pro-active model of regulating tech companies.

The Home Office is currently drawing up a while paper with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which will establish new rules and penalties for social media companies.

Australia has had an eSafety Commissioner since 2015, who has powers to fine social media companies for every day cyber bullying posts are not taken down.

The role, which is currently held by former Microsoft and Twitter executive Julie Inman Grant, has recently also been given powers to enforce the removal revenge porn posts. These can result in companies being fined up to $525,000 (£291,000) and the poster being fined up to $105,000 (£58,273).

Asked about whether the government was considering the Australian model, Baroness Williams said: “One of the things that we always do is look to see what other countries are doing and certainly we are looking into it in the white paper.

“Nothing is off the table in terms of what we are looking at in terms of the white paper.”