The Times’s investigation of YouTube exposes a dangerous and uncomfortable element of the online social networking phenomenon. However, any attempt to use this to call for greater regulation or even state intervention would be even more dangerous.

In almost every respect, the democratisation of the internet – free speech for all – has been a positive evolution for society. A new generation of sites, from YouTube to Facebook, has created entirely new communities and has brought the lifeblood of information and connectivity to countless millions of isolated and vulnerable people. Any reformation in communications will always introduce negative effects. The development of the printing press was accompanied by demands for strict regulation because of the spread of “evil” ideas. Such tensions have existed for hundreds of years.

Nearly all social network sites are seeking solutions to the problems uncovered by The Times. Raising the alarm about the dangers of free expression on these sites represents an easy target, but politicians would be guilty of a greater offence if this resulted in their closure. What is needed in Britain is a constructive relationship between government, advocates and industry to find effective solutions that preserve the best of the online world. Simon Davies is the director of Privacy International