Pornography depicting strangulation and incestuous relationships will be outlawed in the UK from 6 November, the government has announced. This new legislation comes after cross-party pressure prompted ministers to act earlier this year.
The ban will specifically target online pornography that shows strangulation or suffocation, sex between people who are related or pretending to be related, and content where someone is pretending to be a child under 16.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones commented that the measure is not intended to criminalise "harmless sexual preferences," but rather to address content that can shape perceptions of healthy relationships, especially among young people. Davies-Jones added that "content that normalises, or even glorifies, violence against women is dangerous and can blur the line with what is acceptable in real life."
The new rules follow recommendations made by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin in her 2025 review of pornography regulation. Lady Bertin's report highlighted that pornography showing women being choked can have "devastating" real-world consequences and identified "disturbing" role-play, including incest and adults portraying children, as areas for concern. Lady Bertin welcomed the announcement, stating, "It is very good news these offences will come into force, and not a moment too soon."
The End Violence Against Women Coalition campaign group also welcomed the ban, with interim director Janaya Walker calling it "an important step towards tackling the normalisation of violence against women and girls." The group urged ministers to ensure the ban is effectively enforced and to update the Online Safety Act to require online platforms to remove such content.