Google, Facebook and other web giants could be told to stop collecting information about children under 16 who use their websites – or face huge fines.
The technology giants routinely collect vast amounts of data about all users – such as their location and which other websites they visit.
However, they could be effectively barred from collecting this sort of information about youngsters under radical plans to stop them exploiting children online.
The sweeping changes are being pushed through Parliament in the form of an amendment to the Data Protection Bill and will face a Lords vote on Monday.
If they are accepted, technology giants will be told to sign up to a new code of conduct, ensuring websites automatically give children the maximum privacy settings.