Porn showing choking or incest to be banned from early November, government says
The UK government is banning online pornography depicting strangulation, incest, or role-playing as minors starting in November. The legislation aims to curb the normalization of violent sexual content and protect young people from real-world harm.
Why it matters
This reflects a significant shift in digital regulation, balancing freedom of expression with concerns over the societal impact of extreme violent content.
Image source, Photothek By Laura Cress Technology reporter Published 1 hour ago Online pornography depicting strangulation or incestuous relationships will be banned from early November, the government has announced.
From 6 November, it will be illegal to possess or publish porn which shows strangulation or suffocation, depicts sexual activity between people who are related or shows adults role-playing as children under 16.
The new rules follow a review into porn regulation in 2025 which found depictions of choking were "rife" on popular porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people.
Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, who headed the review, said the news came "not a moment too soon".
She told the Press Association the change in law would "send the unequivocal signal" to companies that host and facilitate porn, and also to wider society, that "extreme and violent content that encourages real-life harm is not acceptable".
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