Ofcom would also be able to fine services huge sums if it believed they had failed to protect users.

The $22.5m payout by Pinterest to a former top executive is the largest of its kind to be publicly disclosed.

The data collection review into firms including Facebook and TikTok comes as regulators step up action.

Apps on all of Apple’s app stores will now have to reveal what data they collect and what it is used for.

Users around the world were unable to access applications including YouTube, Gmail and Docs.

The adult site has removed all unverified uploads as it battles accusations of illegal content.