UK government Moves to Ban strangling in Pornography Amid Rising Safety Concerns
Table of Contents
The UK government is poised to criminalize the possession and publication of images depicting strangulation and suffocation in pornography, following a review that highlighted the normalization of such violent acts. The proposed legislation, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill currently before Parliament, aims to address a significant gap in existing laws and protect vulnerable individuals from the harmful effects of this content.
growing Alarm Over Normalization of Violence
The move comes after a February review led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin revealed alarming trends, including anecdotal evidence from teachers reporting students inquiring about choking techniques during sexual activity. This disturbing development underscored a growing concern that the readily available depiction of strangulation in pornography is contributing to its acceptance as a sexual practice, with potentially devastating consequences.
“People acting out choking in their sex lives may face devastating consequences,” Bertin stated in her review.
Previously, while non-fatal strangulation is already a criminal offense, its depiction online remained legal. Bertin earlier this year voiced concerns over a “total absence of government scrutiny” of the pornography industry, a gap the new legislation seeks to address.
New Legislation and Platform Accountability
On Monday, the government confirmed it would introduce amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will be further debated in the House of Lords next week. Beyond criminalizing the content itself, the amendments will place a legal duty on online platforms to proactively prevent the spread of such images. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) indicated this could involve employing stricter content policies, enhanced moderation tools, and automated systems designed to detect and remove the material.
The government is also extending the statute of limitations for victims of intimate image abuse – often referred to as “revenge porn” – from six months to three years, providing more time for individuals to report these crimes.
Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting citizens, stating, “We will not stand by while women are violated online and victimised by violent pornography which is allowed to normalise harm.” She added, “We are sending a strong message that dangerous and sexist behavior will not be tolerated.”
Industry Response and Future Oversight
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the content as “vile and dangerous,” asserting that those who share or promote it contribute to a culture of violence and abuse. “We’re also holding tech companies to account and making sure they stop this content before it can spread,” she said.”We are persistent to make sure women and girls can go online without fear of violence or exploitation.”
if approved, possession or publication of strangulation or suffocation in pornography will be designated a priority offense under the Online Safety Act, compelling technology firms to take swift action.
The British Board of film Classification (BBFC) welcomed the proposed changes, but called for broader reforms to align online and offline content standards. BBFC chief executive David Austin noted that “harmful depictions of non-consensual,violent and abusive activity continue to be readily accessible to UK users.” The BBFC expressed its willingness to take on the role of auditing online pornography, building on its decades of experience with offline content.
Bernie Ryan, chief executive of the Institute For Addressing Strangulation, also applauded the proposed ban, emphasizing the “serious risks posed by unregulated online content, especially to children and young people.” She underscored the dangers of portraying strangulation in pornography,stating,”Strangulation is a serious form of violence,frequently enough used in domestic abuse to control,silence or terrify… our research shows there is no safe way to strangle.”
The government’s actions represent a significant step towards addressing the harmful impact of violent pornography and protecting vulnerable individuals from its normalization.
