United Kingdom to ban extreme pornography depicting strangulation and incest

The United Kingdom government has announced a ban on specific types of extreme online pornography, effective November 6. The new laws, which apply to England and Wales, criminalize the possession and publication of material depicting strangulation, suffocation, incestuous relationships, or adults role-playing as children under the age of 16.

Following a 2025 review led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, authorities determined that such content is widespread on popular platforms and contributes to the normalization of violence among young people. Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones stated the measures aim to protect women and girls, noting that while non-fatal strangulation is already a crime, its online depiction has previously remained legal.

Penalties for publishing or distributing the prohibited material can reach up to five years in prison. Possession of such files on personal devices or cloud storage can result in prison sentences of up to two or three years, depending on the content. Additionally, the regulator Ofcom will oversee websites, with non-compliant platforms facing fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue.