UK to outlaw porn showing strangulation, incest and child role-play from early November
The government announced that from November 6 it will be illegal to possess or publish pornography that depicts strangulation, incest or adults pretending to be children under 16.
From November 6, the United Kingdom will criminalise the possession and distribution of pornographic content that features strangulation or suffocation, sexual acts between certain relatives, or adults masquerading as children under 16. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones framed the measure as part of a broader commitment to reduce violence against women and girls, arguing that such material can influence perceptions of healthy relationships.
The policy stems from a 2025 review by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, who warned that depictions of choking and incest have become normalised in online porn. While non-fatal strangulation is already illegal, its portrayal in pornography has not been covered by law until this change. The ban targets any material that glorifies or normalises these behaviours, aiming to send a clear signal to both hosting platforms and the wider public. Officials urged individuals to delete or stop sharing such content, emphasizing that it is not a harmless preference but a potential driver of real-world harm.
Why it matters
The law seeks to prevent harmful porn from shaping attitudes toward violence and illegal sexual behaviour.
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