UK Implements New Pornography Laws on Non-Fatal Strangulation

England and Wales will begin enforcing new laws on November 6 that criminalize the possession and publication of certain types of online pornography, including depictions of non-fatal strangulation, sexual content involving adults portraying underage characters, and incestuous relationships.

New Content Restrictions Implemented

The U.K. Ministry of Justice announced on Friday, October 16, 2026, that new laws will come into force on November 6, criminalizing depictions of “non-fatal strangulation” and sexual content where adults portray characters under 16. The new regulations also prohibit depictions of incest involving blood relatives. This ban extends to "step" content if a performer portrays someone under the age of 18, a provision intended to criminalize material depicting sex that would be illegal in real life.

Under these new laws, possessing or publishing “pornographic images of strangulation or suffocation” is designated as a priority offense under the Online Safety Act. Possession of such material could lead to a prison sentence of up to two years, while publication could result in sentences of up to five years.

The prohibition on sexual content where adults portray characters under 16 specifies that “sound or information associated with the image” will be the relevant criteria for determining if a performer is portraying a character under 16. However, the law includes a clarification: “A person is not to be taken as pretending to be under 16 if it is fanciful that they are actually under 16 in the way pretended.” A government memorandum further notes that the law is “not intended to criminalize a pornographic image of someone who is clearly an adult where the only marker of childhood is the fact that he or she is in school uniform.”

The Ministry of Justice advised that individuals possessing or publishing content covered by these offenses must cease doing so before the laws take effect. This means permanently deleting or otherwise disposing of such material if possessed, and removing and stopping publication of such content, whether online or offline, before November 6.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government announced this major ban, which follows cross-party pressure regarding the impact of such content on women and girls. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones stated that the government is committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade. Davies-Jones clarified that these legislative updates are not about criminalizing "harmless sexual preferences," but rather addressing content that normalizes or glorifies violence against women, which can be dangerous and blur the line with what is acceptable in real life.

Background and Review Findings

The new rules stem from a 2025 review into porn regulation, headed by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. Her independent inquiry, commissioned under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, found that depictions of choking were "rife" on popular porn sites and had contributed to normalizing the act among young people. Baroness Bertin stated that the news came "not a moment too soon," and that the change in law would "send the unequivocal signal" to companies hosting and facilitating porn, and to wider society, that "extreme and violent content that encourages real-life harm is not acceptable."

Baroness Bertin's report highlighted that pornography showing women being choked can have "devastating" real-world consequences. The report also cited "disturbing" role-play videos, including incest and adults portraying children. An account mentioned in her review described a 14-year-old boy asking a teacher how to choke girls during sex. Baroness Bertin noted that people imitating such behavior "may face devastating consequences."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, Baroness Bertin said that porn showing strangulation had "absolutely sort of normalised this kind of sexual violence." She expressed hope that this law change would be the beginning of ending this normalization, aiming to "marry up" differences in the law regarding what is acceptable online and offline. While non-fatal strangulation is already an offense if someone does not consent, its depiction online was not previously illegal.

Enforcement and Scope

The new laws, enacted as part of the revised Crime and Policing Bill, apply to England and Wales. While these laws also extend to Northern Ireland and Scotland, a specific date for enforcement to begin in those regions has not yet been set.

The U.K. government has also reportedly engaged the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for a pilot program to monitor online pornography for illegal and “extreme” content, as it prepares for the enforcement of these new content restrictions.

Key Facts

• Effective Date: New laws criminalizing certain types of online pornography will be enforced in England and Wales starting November 6.
• Prohibited Content: The ban includes depictions of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation, sexual activity between related individuals, and adults portraying characters under 16.
• Penalties: Possession of prohibited material can lead to up to two years in prison, while publication can result in sentences of up to five years.
• Legal Basis: These changes are part of the revised Crime and Policing Bill and follow recommendations from Baroness Gabby Bertin's 2025 review into pornography regulation.
• Geographic Scope: The laws apply to England and Wales, with enforcement dates for Northern Ireland and Scotland yet to be announced.
• Government Advisory: The Ministry of Justice has advised individuals to delete or remove any prohibited content before November 6 to avoid legal consequences.