The penalty follows an inquiry launched into the tech giant six years ago, following complaints from several European consumer rights organisations.

Visitors stopping to take pictures of the 68m medieval embroidery were holding up others, prompting the rule change.

A report says the attacks, of which there have been at least 68, were not self-defence.

The US media outlets say they are defending "the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes".