The short version
- The ban takes effect on November 6, criminalizing both the publication and possession of specific categories of extreme pornography.
- Penalties include up to five years in prison for publishing such content and up to three years for possessing images involving simulated minors.
- Lawmakers and campaigners argue the measures address the normalization of sexual violence, though experts warn enforcement remains a significant challenge.
The United Kingdom government has confirmed that new legislation banning online pornography depicting strangulation, incest, and adults role-playing as children will take effect on November 6. This regulatory shift marks a significant expansion of criminal liability in the digital space, moving beyond the prohibition of publishing such material to also outlaw its possession. The move follows sustained pressure from cross-party lawmakers and recommendations from a comprehensive review into pornography regulation conducted in 2025.
Under the new rules, it will become illegal to possess or publish content that shows strangulation or suffocation, depicts sexual activity between relatives, or features adults pretending to be under the age of sixteen. The legislation also captures scenarios involving step- or foster-relations where one participant is portrayed as a minor. Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasized that the intent is not to target harmless sexual preferences but to address content that normalizes violence against women and blurs the lines of acceptable behavior in real-life relationships.
The legal framework distinguishes between penalties for publishing and possessing these materials. Individuals found guilty of publishing prohibited content face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Possession charges carry lighter but still substantial penalties: up to three years imprisonment for holding images involving simulated minors, and up to two years for content depicting strangulation or incestuous acts. The government clarified that possession includes storing such files on personal devices like phones and computers, as well as in cloud storage services.
The legislative push was largely driven by findings from an independent review led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. Her report, commissioned by the previous administration, concluded that there had been a total absence of government scrutiny regarding the pornography industry. The review highlighted disturbing trends, including the prevalence of choking depictions on popular sites and accounts of young people imitating such behavior. One cited example involved a fourteen-year-old boy asking a teacher how to choke girls during sex, illustrating the potential for online content to influence real-world actions with devastating consequences.
While non-fatal strangulation is already a criminal offense in its own right when performed without consent, its depiction in fictional or pornographic contexts was previously legal. The new amendments to existing crime and policing laws aim to close this gap. Baroness Bertin described the timing of the ban as urgent, stating that the changes send an unequivocal signal to both hosting platforms and society at large that extreme content encouraging harm is unacceptable. She argued that stronger regulation is necessary to hold companies accountable for facilitating such material.
Campaigners have welcomed the announcement as a critical step in tackling the normalization of violence against women and girls. Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, noted that strangulation can cause serious lasting harm or death, yet its widespread portrayal risks making it seem like a standard part of sexual relationships. She urged ministers to ensure effective enforcement and to update the Online Safety Act so that platforms are legally required to remove this content promptly.
Despite the legislative progress, questions remain regarding implementation. Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University, described the commencement of these laws as a potential turning point in rejecting sexually violent content. However, she cautioned that the success of the ban depends heavily on how swiftly technology platforms and regulators act to mitigate the spread of violating material. The focus, according to experts, should be on transforming the online landscape rather than solely prosecuting individual users.
The government has issued a direct warning to the public ahead of the November deadline. Justice Minister Davies-Jones advised anyone holding such material to delete it immediately and stop sharing it, noting that what may seem harmless can have serious implications. As the date approaches, authorities are preparing to enforce these new standards, aiming to reduce the availability of content that experts link to the normalization of sexual violence among young people.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Pornography showing strangulation and incest to be banned in UK from early November
- BBC Technology↗Porn showing choking or incest to be banned from early November, government says
