● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 neutral1 positive
UK Government Bans Online Pornography Depicting Strangulation or Incest from November 6
Key points
- New ban effective November 6 in England and Wales.
- Prohibits porn showing strangulation, incest, or child role-play.
- Maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment for publication.
- Follows a review highlighting normalization of sexual violence.
- Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones commented on the ban.
- Conservative peer Gabby Bertin made the recommendations in her 2025 review.
New Regulations on Online Pornography
From November 6, it will be illegal in England and Wales to possess or publish online pornography that depicts strangulation or suffocation, shows sexual activity between related individuals, or features adults role-playing as children under 16. These new rules are part of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which became law in April.
Background and Rationale
The decision stems from a 2025 review into porn regulation, led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. The review identified that depictions of choking were prevalent on popular porn sites and contributed to the normalization of such acts among young people. Baroness Bertin stated that the law change sends a clear message to content hosts and society that extreme and violent content encouraging real-life harm is unacceptable.
Impact on Public and Industry
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones clarified that the legislation does not aim to criminalize harmless sexual preferences but addresses content that normalizes or glorifies violence, particularly against women. She emphasized that porn can influence perceptions of healthy relationships, especially among young people. The new offenses carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment for publication.
Addressing Real-World Harm
The review cited instances, such as a 14-year-old boy asking a teacher about choking girls during sex, to illustrate the potential real-world consequences of imitating such online behavior. While non-fatal strangulation is already an offense if non-consensual, its depiction online was not previously illegal. The new law seeks to bridge this gap, aligning online content regulations with existing offline legal standards concerning sexual violence.
Updates
- Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones commented on the ban.
- Conservative peer Gabby Bertin made the recommendations in her 2025 review.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
England and Wales will ban pornography depicting strangulation, incestuous relationships, and child role-play starting November 6. This legislation follows cross-party pressure and recommendations from a 2025 review on pornography regulation, aiming to address content that normalizes violence and harmful sexual acts.
The UK government will ban online pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, incestuous relationships, or adults role-playing as children under 16, effective November 6. This change follows a 2025 review that found such content normalized harmful acts, aiming to align online and offline legal standards regarding sexual violence.