The UK Government has announced a ban on pornography depicting strangulation, to be enacted through the Crime and Policing Bill.
This move aims to protect women and girls from violence by criminalising content that normalises dangerous acts during sex, following recommendations from the Independent Porn Review.
Understanding the Ban
The UK Government’s decision to ban pornography depicting strangulation marks a significant step in addressing concerns about violent content online.
This legislation is designed to protect women and girls by criminalising material that normalises harmful behaviour.
The amendment builds on existing laws against extreme porn and aligns with the Government’s broader Plan for Change, which aims to halve violence against women and girls.
Implications for Online Platforms
- Pornography showing strangulation will become illegal, addressing concerns about violent content.
- The ban follows findings that strangulation in porn is wrongly perceived as ‘safe’ despite serious risks.
- This legislation complements the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which criminalised non-fatal strangulation in real life.
- The amendment targets online content, closing loopholes that previously allowed such material to proliferate.
- Campaigners highlight long-term harm caused by strangulation, including cognitive damage.
Impact on Society
This legislative change holds significant implications for various sectors. For law enforcement and legal services professionals, it strengthens the framework needed to tackle violent and misogynistic material online.
Businesses hosting adult content must ensure compliance to avoid legal penalties, potentially increasing operational costs but improving safety standards.
For the wider UK economy, reducing violence against women can lower healthcare and social service burdens, benefiting public finances and workplace productivity.
A Voice of Support
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), welcomed this decision:
“We welcome the government’s decision to criminalise the depiction of strangulation in pornography… There is no such thing as safe strangulation; women cannot consent to the long-term harm it can cause.”
Her statement underscores years of campaigning by EVAW and other experts who have long warned about the normalization of violence against women in online content.
A Broader Context
This announcement builds on previous legislative efforts like the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and follows recommendations from Baroness Gabby Bertin’s Independent Porn Review in 2023.
The review highlighted how pornography has normalized strangulation as a ‘sexual norm,’ influencing real-world behaviour.
By targeting this specific form of violent content, the government aims not only to protect individuals but also set a precedent for tackling misogyny and violence more comprehensively across digital spaces.
Additional Reading
To Sum Up
The UK’s move to ban pornography depicting strangulation reflects a growing recognition of its harmful effects on society.
By addressing this issue head-on through legislation, there is hope for creating safer online environments while challenging harmful norms perpetuated by such content.
This initiative could pave the way for further protective measures across digital platforms worldwide.
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Sources: UK Government, LBC, UK Parliament Publications, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Ministry of Justice and Alex Davies-Jones MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
