BRITAIN’S film censor is suggesting that it could provide the first classifications for content of the internet.

Parents worried about what their children see on the internet should have guidance on whether content is suitable, in the way that happens at the cinema, the British Board of Film Classification says. The board has suggested a voluntary certification scheme — comparable to its U, PG, 12A, 15 and 18 categories for films — that would warn users about graphic sex, violence and foul language.

The board, which has invited the Government to join the debate, says in its annual report: “We regularly see and deal with material, whether so-called ‘extreme reality’, abusive pornography, or simply content which is unsuitable for the age group to whom it is addressed, where our intervention is clearly necessary.

“No one should assume that such material will be confined to established platforms such as film and DVD. Whether in a regulatory or an advisory capacity, we believe we have unique expertise and experience to offer.”

Simon Davies, of Privacy International, which campaigns for freedom of expression, told The Times: “It sounds like the most stupid intervention since the registration of fax machines and photocopiers in communist China.”

Sue Clark, a spokeswoman for the board, said that people should be able to “make informed choices about what to watch”, and added: “Regulation, in this case, doesn’t mean banning or cutting. It is about providing information."

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