The scope of the UK’s media merger laws could be “widened” under plans revealed by the Government.

It has been announced that the proposals would allow for “increased scrutiny” of deals involving the sale of UK online news magazines and publications.

This will extend the reach of current powers beyond television, radio and print newspapers.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said yesterday that media merger laws had not “kept pace with technology” or the “evolution of news consumption habits”. Under the current regime, the Culture Secretary can intervene in mergers and acquisitions involving broadcasters, UK daily and Sunday print newspapers and local newspapers.

The new plans would allow ministers to investigate whether deals involving the purchase of UK online news magazines and publications are in the public interest.

The agreement would be examined if it was deemed to “adversely affect accurate information, freedom of expression and media plurality.”

Scope of UK media merger laws could be ‘widened’ under plans revealed by Government (File Image)

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy arrives for a cabinet meeting in Downing Street

The new powers could apply to mergers involving the online arms of print publications, online-only news providers like HuffPost or magazines like The Economist.

The Government says the rules are being “modernised for the digital age”. It adds that the measures would ensure that the public interest can be “safeguarded in these popular sources of news content”. The Culture Secretary could “intervene where necessary” to protect the availability of “a wide range of high-quality, accurate news”, especially for younger audiences.

The plans would also allow the Culture Secretary to intervene in mergers where a foreign power can control or influence the policy of an online news site, provided the acquired entity has a UK turnover of at least €2m. pounds sterling.

Ms Nandy said: ‘Since the media merger regime came into force more than 20 years ago, our laws have not kept pace with technology and evolving news consumption habits.

‘As people get more and more news online, we need a future-proof regime. “That is why I propose more reforms, ensuring that freedom of the press continues to be maintained.”

The Ministry of Culture has started a consultation on the proposal, which will end on December 18.