The government has announced recent laws that may criminalise the possession and publication of pornographic material depicting strangulation or suffocation, following mounting concerns that such images are helping to normalise violence in sexual behaviour.
The measures, introduced as a part of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, will make it a criminal offence to create, possess or share content that portrays strangulation or suffocation in a sexual context. Tech firms may also be legally required to stop such material from being uploaded or shared on their platforms under the Online Safety Act.
Non-fatal strangulation has been recognised as a criminal offence since 2022, but until now there was no legal restriction on showing it online.
The forthcoming laws goals to shut that gap and reply to growing evidence that such content is influencing real-world behaviour.
Baroness Gabby Bertin, whose independent Pornography Review informed the choice, warned earlier this yr that there had been a “total absence of presidency scrutiny” of the industry. Her report cited troubling accounts from teachers that some students were asking tips on how to choke girls during sex, suggesting that violent pornography was shaping young people’s understanding of intimacy.
“People acting out choking of their sex lives may face devastating consequences,” Baroness Bertin said in her review.
Under the brand new amendments, technology firms will face stricter obligations to detect and take away illegal material before it may well flow into. Automated moderation tools, stricter content rules and proactive monitoring are among the many steps firms can be expected to take.
Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the federal government “won’t stand by while women are violated online and victimised by violent pornography which is allowed to normalise harm”.
She added: “We are sending a powerful message that dangerous and sexist behaviour won’t be tolerated.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall echoed that view, describing the depictions as “vile and dangerous” to people exposed to them.
“Those who post or promote such content are contributing to a culture of violence and abuse that has no place in our society,” she said.
The recent law also introduces broader protections for victims of intimate image abuse, extending the deadline for reporting such crimes from six months to 3 years – giving survivors more time and confidence to return forward.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) welcomed the federal government’s plans, saying the move should “mark the start of broader reform to make sure parity between online and offline content standards”. Its chief executive, David Austin, said harmful depictions of violent and abusive activity “proceed to be readily accessible to UK users” and that the BBFC stood able to help audit online material.
Bernie Ryan, chief executive of the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), praised the proposed ban as a vital step towards tackling a “serious type of violence” that is commonly linked to domestic abuse.
“While consenting adults have the appropriate to explore their sexuality safely and freely, we must recognise the intense risks posed by unregulated online content, especially to children and young people,” she said. “When strangulation is portrayed in pornography without context, it may well send confusing and harmful messages about what’s normal or acceptable in intimate relationships. Our research shows there isn’t a secure approach to strangle.”
The government says the amendments form a part of its wider Plan for Change, which goals to halve violence against women and girls. If passed, the measures would make the depiction of strangulation or suffocation in pornography a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, ensuring that platforms are held accountable for removing such content swiftly.
The amendments are expected to return to the House of Lords for scrutiny next week.
The Evangelical Alliance has welcomed the federal government’s motion, describing it as a vital step in recognising the dignity and equal value of each human being.
A spokesperson said: “We consider within the dignity and equal value of each human being, particularly because the Bible teaches us that each individual is made within the image of God. Therefore, attitudes or content that demean women and girls’ bodies violate this value and are unacceptable. We welcome efforts to grasp and counteract online content that’s derogatory and incorporates harassment or abusive messaging.”
The Alliance also highlighted the continuing work of Christian organisations across the UK that seek to teach and protect young people from the harms of pornography. Groups reminiscent of CARE, Love for Life NI and Exodus work inside schools and churches to open conversations about healthy relationships and online safety.
Love for Life, for instance, delivers sessions in schools that encourage open discussion concerning the effects of pornography and the importance of respect in relationships, while CARE has campaigned alongside parliamentarians and churches to strengthen online safety laws and reduce the normalisation of sexual violence.
“These organisations are doing vital work to be sure that children and young persons are higher equipped to grasp the hazards of pornography and the damage it causes,” the Alliance said.
 The government has announced recent laws that may criminalise the possession and publication of pornographic material depicting strangulation or suffocation, following mounting concerns...){kind=link}