United Kingdom extreme pornography ban

The United Kingdom government has announced a ban on specific types of extreme online pornography, scheduled to take effect in early November. The new legislation, applicable to England and Wales, criminalizes the possession and publication of material depicting strangulation, suffocation, incestuous relationships, or adults role-playing as children under the age of 16.

The decision follows a 2025 review and efforts by civil society groups to address the normalization of sexual violence in digital media. Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones stated the measures aim to protect women and girls. Legal experts, including Durham University law professor Clare McGlynn, noted that online algorithms have contributed to this issue by driving users toward extreme and misogynistic content to maximize engagement.

Penalties for publishing or distributing prohibited material can reach up to five years in prison, while possession can result in sentences of up to two or three years. The regulator Ofcom will oversee websites, with non-compliant platforms facing fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue.