Whittingdale, who will go head to head with culture secretary Tessa Jowell in the second reading of the communications bill tonight, will outline the problems that will be caused if Ofcom's remit is extended to newspapers in this area.
UK newspaper publishers will not come under the controls of Ofcom, as the industry regulator, the Press Complaints Commission, is not one of the five regulators being folded into the new super watchdog.
However, Whittingdale is concerned that Ofcom will be given a say in public interest matters.
In his speech tonight, Whittingdale will tell Jowell: "There is a real concern that that this bill, far from protecting press freedom, does quite the opposite."
He believes that giving Ofcom powers over newspapers, where it does not have the expertise of a newspaper regulatory body among its members is dangerous.
"Giving an additional responsibility to Ofcom is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. These are issues on which Ofcom lacks expertise, where its role is already carried out by the OFT and which may have the consequence of introducing statutory regulation on newspapers through the back door. Unforeseen consequence or not, it must not be allowed to occur," Whittingdale says.
The second reading of the communications bill tonight gives Jowell, the opposition and other members of parliament the chance to raise issues about the bill that was published two weeks ago.
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