Parliament told Twitter could now observe gagging orders

Gagging injunctions aimed at journalists could also be observed by Twitter, the website has told Parliament.

Numerous injunctions observed by journalists have been widely flouted on Twitter over the last year – including one aimed at protecting the privacy of footballer Ryan Giggs.

Last week, Twitter revealed a new policy which enables it to "withhold specific content when required to do so in response to what we believe to be a valid and applicable legal request".

Colin Crowell, head of global public policy for Twitter, yesterday told the joint Parliamentary committee on privacy and injunctions that, if provided with the same information as the media, Twitter could block content which breaches injunctions.

MP Ben Bradshaw cited the Ryan Giggs injunction – which was reportedly broken by 75,000 Twitter users last May.

Crowell said: "[If] we receive, from an authorised entity, a request to take [Tweets] down, then, consistent with applicable law and in terms of service, we will work through those on a case-by-case basis.

"Our policy is now that we have the ability to cater things to a particular jurisdiction."

The committee also challenged Facebook director of policy in Europe Lord Allan of Hallam over the publication of prejudicial material relating to Amanda Knox during her appeal against a murder conviction – which culminated with her release in October.

Lord Allan said: "I think it's important to distinguish a regulator that regulates publications that are editorialised and have this huge influence over the public debate because they reach millions of people and the potential regulation of millions of citizens.

"When you're talking about regulating us, you're talking about regulating the people who post because none of that content is ours.

"I would say it's very much more equivalent to talking about how you might regulate people having a chat in the pub then it is about newspaper regulation."