LABOUR is calling for social media firms to be prosecuted if they fail to act against anti-vaxx disinformation being published on their platforms.

The party is urging the government to not waste a “once in a generation” opportunity to crack down on harmful online content, including posts that show people to how to self-harm or commit suicide, promote hate speech or promote disinformation.

Labour wants the forthcoming Online Harms Bill to empower the proposed regulator to issue financial penalties if social media platforms fail to remove such material.