UK Government to Ban Pornography Depicting Strangulation and Incest

The UK government has announced that online pornography depicting acts of strangulation or incestuous relationships will be banned from November 6. The new legislation makes it illegal to possess or publish content that falls under these categories.

The ban specifically targets pornography showing choking or suffocation, sexual activity between individuals portraying themselves as relatives, or adults role-playing as children under 16. This move follows a review into pornography regulation, which found that depictions of choking were prevalent on popular adult websites and had contributed to the normalization of the act among young people.

Baroness Gabby Bertin, who led the review, stated the change was "not a moment too soon," emphasizing that the law will send a clear message that "extreme and violent content that encourages real-life harm is not acceptable." The independent review, commissioned by the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government, highlighted concerns raised by educational professionals about young people inquiring about engaging in such acts.

While non-consensual strangulation is already an offense, its depiction online has not been explicitly illegal. Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, enacted in April, aim to bring this content under criminal law in England and Wales. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones clarified that the intention is not to "criminalise harmless sexual preferences" but to address how pornography can shape perceptions of healthy relationships, particularly for younger audiences.

Violations of the new offenses carry potential penalties of up to five years imprisonment for publication, including uploading or sharing the material online. Possession, such as storing images on a device or in cloud storage, could result in up to two years imprisonment for content depicting strangulation or incest. Possession of material showing adults pretending to be under 16 could lead to a maximum of three years imprisonment.