Cyberspace does not lend itself well to censorship. But while policing every strand of the world wide web would be impossible, that does not mean it cannot be better regulated.

It is almost impossible for some of the bigger websites, such as MySpace and YouTube, to screen everything. More than ten hours of video content is uploaded every minute, which means that websites have to rely upon their users to notify them of anything inappropriate.

Most users will be responsible, but it is still possible for things to be missed. Even when alerted, some websites are alarmingly slow to take down the offending material. In one case, the video of a gang rape had been viewed 600 times before being removed.

The view of the select committee is that YouTube, and other such sites, should be doing more to actively seek out inappropriate material, without having to sit and wait for somebody to tell them about it. That should not be the only system in place.

I also believe that the internet industry should establish a self-regulating body. If the leading sites subscribe to an agreed set of standards, which can then be monitored and verified, then they will be able to reassure users, and parents in particular.

John Whittingdale is a Conservative MP and chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee