The government announced that depictions of strangulation, suffocation, incestuous relationships, and adults simulating minors will become illegal to possess or publish in England and Wales from 6 November. The maximum penalty for publishing such content is five years’ imprisonment, while possession carries sentences of up to two years for strangulation or incest material, and up to three years for images depicting simulated minors.
The policy follows a 2025 independent review commissioned by the previous administration that examined online pornography regulation. The review found that depictions of choking were widespread on popular pornography platforms and had contributed to normalizing the practice among young people. Baroness Gabby Bertin, who led the review, cited accounts of adolescents requesting instruction on such practices, warning that imitation of depicted behavior could result in serious harm.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasized that the legislation aims to prevent content from normalizing violence against women and shaping perceptions of healthy relationships, particularly among young audiences. While non-fatal strangulation without consent is already illegal as an act, its depiction in pornographic material is not currently a criminal offense. The new amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which became law in April, seek to address this gap by establishing criminal offences for such online content.
Law professor Clare McGlynn characterized the enforcement of these laws as a potential watershed moment in addressing sexually violent content online. However, she noted ongoing questions about the speed at which technology platforms and regulatory bodies would implement enforcement measures to remove violating material. Officials clarified that possession includes stored images on devices or cloud storage, while publication encompasses uploading, posting, or making content available online to others.
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